323 
Although, as a rule, the eggs are glossless, a good many,when 
freshly laid, bear more or less of a natural glaze, which vastly 
brightens their colouring. 
In size, the eggs vary from 1°9 to 2°35 in length, and from 
1:55 to 1°85 in breadth, but the average of 273 eggs measured, 
was 2°19 by 1°77. 
Capt. G. F. L. Marshall, writing from Saharunpoor, remarks 
that this species ‘‘ generally breeds in February and March, 
but I have taken eggs as late as the end of April. It usually 
lays three eggs, but will lay more, ifsome of the eggs are taken. 
I took two out of three eggs from one nest, leaving one to pre- 
vent the bird forsaking the place. A short time after, I sent a 
shikaree to shoot and bring me the bird ; he mistook my orders 
and brought the eggs, there were three then, two more had 
been laid ; after this, one other egg was laid, and then the nest 
was forsaken ; the nest was in my own compound, so that I had 
ample opportunities for watching it.” 
Mr. W. E. Brookes remarks, that this species is, “ tolerably 
common both at Nyneetal and Almorah, at both of which places 
it breeds about two months later than it does in the plains.” 
That there are certainly two distinct species of Kites in India, 
my remarks, when treating of the next species (No. 56 bis), will 
I hope, sufficiently clearly show, but besides this, it seems by no 
means improbable, that a third species, W. affinis of Australia 
and the Archipelago, also occurs, and further, it appears by no 
means impossible, that IZ. Melanotis of China and Japan, may 
also be found within our limits. 
The following are Mr. Blyth’s remarks on these three species, 
in the Ibis for 1866. 
“Professor Schlegel (Mus. P. B. Milvi, p. 2) identifies this 
with the I. melanotis, Schlegel, (Faun. Japon. Aves, tab. V. 
and V. B.) of China and Japan. Of the myriads of Indian 
Kites, which have been familiarly observed by me for more 
than twenty-one years, I certainly never saw one even approach- 
ing to the rufous colouring represented in the ‘ Fauna Japonica’ 
(tab. V. B.) ; and so far as I have seen, the adults of JZ. meda- 
notis exhibit a mottling of the feathers of the upper parts, as 
shown in the figures cited, which is never seen in adults of the 
Indian Gite. The Chinese species has, moreover, a rather 
stouter bill. In former years, I held this opinion in opposition 
to that of my friend Mr. Swinhoe (in epistolis) ; but I observe 
that he now gives medanotis (and not govinda) in his “ Catalogue 
of the Birds of China” (P. Z. 8. 1863, p. 260.) Mr. Gould, 
in his recently published ‘ Hand-book to the Birds of Australia,’ 
states of MW. affinis, that it “ appears to enjoy a very wide distri- 
