378 Zoological Society : — 



Subfamily Buteonin^. 

 Genus Milvus. 



MiLVUS AFFINIS. CoMMON InDIAN KiTE. 



This is one of the most common, if not the commonest bird of prey 

 to be found in India. Over every cantonment, town and village they 

 are to be seen, sweeping round in graceful circles, ever and anon 

 making a swoop, as their quick eye descries some offal thrown out 

 from cook-room or hut, seizing it in their claws without alighting, 

 and making their repast on the wing. So sudden and bold is their 

 dash, that in two cases which occurred amongst my own servants, a 

 Kite pounced on the contents of a plate which a servant was bringing 

 from the cook-room, and was off almost before the man knew who 

 the thief was, and whence he came. On another occasion the theft 

 was not confined to meat, for either a silver fork or spoon was thus 

 whipped up, and the thief, after being chased by the affrighted 

 servant, and scared by his shouting, dropped it in a neighbouring 

 garden. The poor servant doubtless thought that a Kite would never 

 be suspected of having committed the theft. The food of this bird 

 consists of every kind of animal refuse ; and in providing two such 

 efficient scavengers as this Kite and the Egyptian Vulture, in a coun- 

 try where all animal matter begins at once to decay and would form 

 a constant source of pestilence, the hand of an all-wise and gracious 

 God is clearly visible. The common Indian Kite builds its nest on 

 tall trees, during the mouths of February, March and April. I saw 

 a bird building as late as the 18th of April. The nest is composed 

 of sticks, and contains as many as three eggs. I never found more 

 than that nnmber. The eggs are 2^^ inches in length and l^f inch 

 in breadth, varying a good deal in colour, but generally of a whitish 

 ground, more or less blotched and spotted with reddish-brown ; in 

 gome the markings are chiefly at the large end, in others at the small. 



Milvus Pondicerianus. Brahminy Kite. 



The eggs of this fishing Kite I have never seen, but I transcribe a 

 note of its nest and young: "Feb. 27, 18.50. Found the nest and 

 two young birds of a species of fishing Hawk ; the young ones were 

 covered with whitish down, that on the back of a pale brown colour. 

 The nest, formed of sticks and lined with mud, was built on a tall 

 tree on the banks of the Bheema River, where these birds are com- 

 mon." As far as my observations go, I should say that this bird is 

 decidedly a fishing Hawk. I have never seen it but either sailing 

 along the course of a river or in the vicinity of water. 



Genus Pernis. 

 Pernis cristata ? 



I have not been able to ascertain anything relating to the nesting 

 or the eggs of this Buzzard, but I was informed by a Mhar who 

 saw it, of a curious habit of this bird ; that when about to feed on a 



