372 



Distribution. Along the base of the Himalayas from Kashmir to 

 Assam, ranging into the plains as far as Delhi and Etawah in 

 winter ; in Assam and Cachar, probably throughout Burma, but 

 rare there ; in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes^ 



The Himalayan race, the wing of which sometimes measures 

 19 inches, but generally 17 to 18, has been distinguished as 

 P.plumbeus from the Malay race P. humilis, with a wing from 

 13-5 to 15-5 ; but there is no difference except size, and Cachar 

 birds have intermediate dimensions. 



Habits, $c. Similar to those of P. ichthyaetus. The nest is a 

 huge structure of sticks in a high tree ; the eggs, two or three in 

 number, are white and unspotted, measuring about 2-75 by 2-12. 

 The birds breed in the Himalayas between January and May. 



y 



Genus HALIASTUR, Selby, 1840. 



Bill rather large, compressed, slightly curved towards the base, 

 but sharply bent over near the tip : festoon distinct ; nostril a 

 broad rounded oval, the longer axis oblique. Wings very long, 

 extending beyond the end of the tail, 4th primary longest ; tail 

 of moderate length, slightly rounded at the end. Tarsi short, 

 feathered above, the naked portion with broad transverse scutes in 

 front, and hexagonal scales behind and at the sides ; toes covered 

 with transverse scutes above, rough and pointed scales beneath, 

 lateral toes unequal ; claws well developed and curved. 



The well-known Brahminy Kite is the sole Indian repre- 

 sentative and the type of this genus, which inhabits the Oriental 

 and Australian regions. Haliastur has been classed alternately 

 with the Sea-Eagles and with the Kites, and is allied to both. 



1228. Haliastur Indus. The Brahminy Kite. (Eig. 79, p. 312.) 



Ealco indus, Bodd. Tabl PL Enl. p. 25 (1783). 



Falco pondicerianus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i, p. 265 (1788). 



Haliastur indus, Blyth, Cat. p. 31 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat, i, p. 57 ; Jerdon, 

 B. I. i, p. 101 ; Hume, Rough Notes, p. 316 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. 

 xxxvii, pt. 2, p. 16 ; xli, pt. 2, p. 230 ; King, J.A.S. B. xxxvii, pt. 2, 

 pp. 210, 213; Godiv.-Aust. J.A. S. B. xxxix, pt. 2, p. 93 ; Hume. 

 N. 8f E. p. 51 j id. S. F. i, p. 160 ; Rainey, ibid. p. 496 ; A. Anderson, 

 P. Z. S. 1872, p. 79 ; Hayes Lloyd, Ibis, 1873, p. 405 ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. B. M. i, p. 313 ; Butler, S. F. iii, p. 448 ; ix, p. 374; Fair- 

 bank, S. F. v, p. 392 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi, p. 22 ; Davidson 

 $ Wend. S. F. vii, p. 75 ; Ball, ibid. p. 200 ; Cripps, ibid. p. 251 ; 

 Gurney, Ibis, 1878, p. 460 ; Hume, Cat. no. 55 ; Scully, S. F. viii, 

 p. 227 ; Legge, Birds Ceyl. p. 76 ; Vidal, S. F. ix, p. 34 ; Bingham, 

 ibid. p. 145 ; Reid, S. F. x, p. 12 ; Damson, ibid. p. 340 ; Oates, 

 B. B. ii, p. 201 ; Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 90; Barnes, Birds 

 Bom. p. 54 ; Hume, S. F. xi. p. 15 ; Oates, in Hume's N. fy E. 

 2nd ed. iii, p. 170. 



The Maroon-backed Kite, Jerdon; Brahmani Chll, Sankar Chil,. 

 Dhobia-Chll, Ru-mubdrik, H. ; Khemankari, Sansc. ; Garuda, Can..;. 



