5g FALCONID^E. 



Length. -25- $ inches; wing 21 ; tail 13-2 ; tarsus 2-5. 



There is yet a set controversy in regard to the distinctness of this species 

 from M. govinda. Mr. Edwin Brooks, in vol. iv. S. F., says that from an 

 examination of the type of M. govinda in the South Kensington Museum, he 

 concludes that M. melanotis (T. and S.) and M. major (Hume) must be con- 

 sidered as synonyms of M. govinda (Sykes). Schlegel again unites melanotis 

 and govinda, but Mr. Hume holds that the pure white wing patch of major 

 distinguishes it equally from melanotis, govinda and affinis, a third species 

 found in India, also by its larger size. 



The following comparative measurements are given by Mr. Hume : 

 Wing, Male. Wing, Female. 



M. govinda 17-5 to 18 18 to 19-5 



M. major 19 to 20-5 19-45 to 21 



M. affinis 16 to 17-5 17 to 1775 



#00. Throughout India, Japan, and China; also Nepal and Eastern 

 Turkistan. 



53. Milvus affinis, Gould. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 140 ; id. B. Austr \. 

 pi. 21 ; Wall. Ibis, 1868, p. 13; Jerd. Ibis, 1871, p. 343 ; Sharpe, Cat. Ace. 

 B. M. p. 323; 'Str.F. i. p. 160; vii. 44-200 ; Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, 

 p. 9!. The MALAYAN or LESSER INDIAN KITE. 



Head pale brown, or rufescent brown, the feathers darker streaked ; lores and 

 ear coverts blackish ; chin whitish, with distinct black shaft stripes, under 

 surface of body dull rufous brown, inclining to dusky on the chest and flanks- 

 all the feathers distinctly but narrowly streaked with black along the shaft ; 

 back blackish brown, the wing coverts paler, and with distinct shaft stripes ; 

 primaries blackish ; secondaries paler ; under surface of wing pale brown, 

 ashy near the base ; tail dark brown, ashy beneath, with remains of dark bars 

 on the centre feathers j under wing coverts rufous brown with blackish shaft 

 stripes ; cere and feet yellow ; bill blackish ; irides brown. 



Length. 20 inches; wing 16 to 17-5 ; tail 107; tarsus 2'05 ; culmen 1-55. 

 Females larger. 



Hal. Sind, Punjab, N.-W. Provinces, Central and Southern India, Ajmere, 

 Bengal, the Deccan, British Burma (Upper Pegu) ; Maccassar, Celebes, Timor, 

 Chusan, and Australia. 



Common throughout India nearly ; habits the same as M. govinda. 



54. Milvus korschun, Gm. N. Com. Petrop. xv. p. 444 ; Strickl. 

 Orn. Syn. p. 133; Blf. Geol. Zool. Abyss, p. 300; Shelley, Birds Egypt; 

 Sharpe, Cat. Ace. p. 322. Falco ater, Gm. Syn. N. i. p. 262 ; Bree. B. 

 Europe, i, p. 101. Milvus niger, Bp. Comp. List. B. Eur. and N. Am. p. 4, 



