1922.] the Near East and Tropical East Africa. 68 



usually over 5 mm. broad. Head with little or no red on 

 the crown. Back usually darker in the centre than in 

 either ^Jcn-a^/^^s or (cgyptiva. Wing 43-4-472, usually 

 440-460. 



A strong migrant. I observed several })arties passing 

 north over the Pyramids in Egypt on spring migration 

 from 3.iv. to G.iv., but so far no bird of this race has with 

 certainty been obtained in Egypt. Fully adult black- 

 billed Kites Avero also frequently seen at Helouan south of 

 (Jairo in November and December, whereas none but 

 yellow-billed Kites were observed in the same locality 

 after the end of March. 

 M. m. parasiius (Daud.). Bill yellow in adults and black in 

 immature birds. Breast-feathers with narrower and 

 usually blacker shaft-stripes than in M. di. mif/rans, fie]dom 

 exceeding 3 mm. in breadth. Head redder and less whitish 

 than in either M. m. migrans or ceg>/ptii(s, but on the whole 

 not such a red bird as (rgyjitius. Tail deeply forked. i\\o 

 difference l)etween the tips of the middle and outer rec- 

 trices varying from 30 to ()<s mm. Wing 410-455 mm., 

 usually 422-445. 



Confined to tropical Africa. 

 M. m. a'ijijptins (Gm.). Bill yellow in adults and black in 

 immature birds, though sometimes the black bill is retained 

 till the bird is in apparently adult plumage. Shafts on 

 the breast-feathers as in parasitus. General coloration 

 nearly always redder than either of the preceding races. 

 Sclateril', Praed (Il)is, Oct. 1919, p. 691) say that this race 

 differs from parasitns by its lighter more reddish colour and 

 ])aler head, the tail being as a rule more reddish. Tail 

 moderately forked as in M. in. migrans, the difference 

 between the tips of the centre and outer rectrices varying 

 between 15 and 46 mm. Wing 430-458 mm.^ usually 410- 

 448. 



Resident in the Egyptian Delta and Nubia, a few indi- 

 viduals wandering south in winter to tropical East Africa. 

 Birds from Somaliland and southern Arabia appear to be 

 intermediate between parasitus and teqyptiits. 



