d41 
posedly on the bare end of a bough, whilst gun in hand one 
walks up to within a few paces of their perch. 
Mr. H. R. P. Carter, writing from Conoor (Southern India) 
remarks that “this species frequently perches on telegraph 
wires, flies quietly off on the approach of an engine, and perches 
again, a hundred yards or so ahead. With a slow train, I have 
seen this kept up for two or three miles. 
“Sometimes J have seen them remain on the wire within a 
few yards of the train and let the train pass without moving.” 
This bird, which is recorded from all parts of India, from 
Ceylon to the base of the Himalayahs, and from various localities 
in British Burmah, is seldom seen in any numbers, but I once 
saw more than a dozen pairs hunting together over the dry reedy 
bed of a jheel. ‘his was on Christmas Day, near Badlee, (Z. 
Rohtuk, Punjaub) and in these very reeds, on this same day, I 
procured the first specimens of Himberiza Schenicolus recorded 
from India. 
As regards the general distribution of this genus and species, 
I cannot do better than quote some remarks of Mr. Gould, 
which appeared in the Birds of Asia. 
“There is not a more distinct and better defined group of 
Hawks, than those forming the genus Z/anus, the members of 
which are widely spread over both the old and the new world. 
In America, the E/anus leucurus has a wide range, from Mexico 
to Brazil; Africa, India, and the Indian Islands are inhabited 
by three others ; one, the #. Melanopterus, ranges over southern 
Europe, the whole of Africa, and India; Australia, however, 
appears to be the head-quarters of the genus, two species at 
least, the H. Avillaris and EF. Scriptus inhabiting that country. 
The present bird” (#. Hypoleucus trom Macassar, north Celebes, 
Borneo and Java) “differs from all the other members of the 
genus; it is most nearly allied to #. Avillaris, but exceeds that 
bird in size, and is destitute of the black spot on the under 
surface of the wing. It is true, some small tippings of black 
are seen; but they occur on a different part to the spot in Z. 
Avillaris ; the character, by which it may at all times be distin- 
guished, is the silvery white hue of the under surface of the 
primaries, throughout their whole length.” 
