Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 403 



All observers, I believe, admit that they are very closely 

 allied; but some would separate the two races, mainly, it 

 would seem, on the grounds of a supposed difference in size. 

 Mr. Blyth, Mr. Blanford, and others insist on the African 

 bird being larger and more robust than the Indian ; and if 

 this difference were constant, it would, in conjunction with 

 geographical distribution, entitle the two forms to rank as 

 separate species. But of late specimens have been obtained in 

 India which are admitted to be true A. navioides, and we 

 have therefore the somewhat remarkable fact of two distinct 

 species with exactly similar phases of plumage, and only dif- 

 fering in point of size, both inhabiting India. On examining 

 specimens of the two forms, however, it is at once apparent 

 that African examples of A. mevioides differ as much in the 

 matter of size, inter se, as they do, taken in a body, from the 

 Indian A. fulvescens, while some African specimens are ac- 

 tually smaller than average Indian examples. My own belief 

 is that African and Indian birds are referable to one and the 

 same species, viz. A. mevioides of Cuvier, which in north- 

 western India attains the development of the typical African 

 form, but runs gradually smaller as it extends to the east- 

 ward. Parallel instances of decrease in size with extension 

 of range might easily be quoted. In Kattiawar, where the 

 species is common, the large form prevails. A pair of these 

 birds once joined me in pursuit of a mongoose ; but, luckily 

 for the latter, there were a number of bushes about, and by 

 dodging in and out and round these he finally escaped. The 

 Eagles seemed to enjoy the fun ; and as they always followed 

 each other quickly in their stoops, and as I was always on the 

 other side of the bush ready for the mongoose as he scudded 

 round with his tail stuck out like a bottle-brush, the unfor- 

 tunate little wretch had, for about five minutes, rather a bad 

 time of it. 



33. NlSAETUS BONELLII. 



Not common. 



:>S. ClRCABTUS GALL10US. 



Common. 



