326 
which I have described as WZ. Major (No. 56 bis) and which so 
far as plumage goes, it seems to resemble very closely. 
The present species, IZ. Govinda, seems (if really distinct from 
Affinis) to be confined to India, Ceylon, and Burmah. In 
China and Japan, it isreplaced by Melanotis ; in Australia and 
part, at any rate, of the Archipelago, by Affinis. In Arabia, 
South Eastern Europe, Egypt and South Africa, we have JZ. 
Parasiticus, and in the latter three localities, and throughout 
southern and central Europe and northern Africa I. Migrans, 
(from which Radde and others consider Me/anotis doubtfully 
distinct,) while in England, and in many parts of Europe, the 
red Kite Milvus Regalis (vel Vulgaris) though now perhaps 
somewhat scarce, was at one time nearly as common, as the 
Pariah Kite with us. 
No. 56 sis. Milvus Major.* Sp. Nov. 
Tar Larcer Inpran Kite. 
This new species may be at once distinguished from the 
Pariah Kite, by its superior size, although approaching more 
* Mitvus Masor. 
Dimenstons.—(J only have accurate measurements of 2 specimens, both 
females.) Length 26°75, 27°75; Wing, 21, 215; (Col. Tytler’s specimen 
has the wing 22.”) Tail 13°3, 13:75; length of tarsus. 2°5, 2°4, (both 
feathered for 1-4); mid toe to root of claw 1°62, 17; its claw, straight 
0°7, 0°82; hind toe, 0°88, 0°91; its claw, straight, 0°8, 0°96; inner toe, 
0°85, 0°89; its claw, 0°72, 0°9; bill straight, from edge of cere to point, 
1:05, 1:06; from gape, 1°75, 1°78; width at gape, 1°32, 1°38; height at mar- 
gin of cere, 0°55, 0°58 ; length of cere on culmen, 0°45, 0°48 ; lower tail coverts 
fall short of end of tail by 5, and 5°85. The 4th primary is the longest ; the 
1st is 5°35, the 2nd 2°00, and the 3rd 0°20, shorter. 
(The smaller of the two birds is in the second stage of plumage, described 
below, the larger is in the first or adult plumage.) 
Drscriprion.—lIst adult female. Bill and claws horny black. Legs 
dull yellow. Toes, mingled dingy greenish and yellow. Cere, pale greenish 
ellow. 
z Plumage.—General plumage, much as in the common Kite, but the whole 
of the upper part with a more or less purple gloss. Forehead and lores whitish, 
crown, occiput, nape, back of the neck, breast and upper abdomen rich 
umber brown, dullest on the head, with very narrow, black or blackish brown, 
shaft stripes, which again are bordered on either side, in some feathers 
throughout their whole lengths, in others only towards their tips, with 
narrow, more or Jess pale, rufous stripes. The lower abdomen and flanks, 
similar, but the black shaft stripe almost obsolete, and the two rufous stripes 
broader and blending. A blackish brown stripe, from the posterior angle of 
the eye, over the top of the ear-coverts. Chin, throat, cheeks and greater 
