54 MILVIN^E. 



very long, the 4th quill longest ; tail moderate, broad, and 

 slightly rounded ; tarsi short, moderately stout, with a large 

 plume of feathers at the knee, covered anteriorly and posteriorly 

 with large scutse ; lateral scales small, reticulate ; feet small, 

 lateral toes unequal ; claws not very unequal, grooved beneath, 

 inner and hind-claws about equal; toes rough beneath, with 

 sharp points. 



Haliastur indus, Bodd. 



55. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 101 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 



Stray Feathers, Vol. Ill, p. 448 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 



IX, p. 374 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 90 ; Swinhoe 



and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 58 ; Hume's Scrap 



Book, p. 316. 



THE BRAHMINY KITE. 

 Brah/mami Chil, Hin. 



Length, 18 to 21 ; expanse, 54 to 57 ; wing, 15 to 1675 ; tail, 

 6'5 to 7'5 ; tarsus, 2 to 2'25 ; bill at gape, T4 to 1'5. 



Adult : head, neck, and body below, as far as the middle of 

 the abdomen, white, with longitudinal narrow streaks of dark 

 brown ; the rest of the plumage rich chesnut-rufous, darkest on 

 the interscapulars and back ; quills black, chesnut internally 

 towards the base ; tail paling towards the tip. 



The young bird is pale brown ; the feathers of the head, neck, 

 and lower parts lighter streaked, and the upper feathers spotted 

 with fulvous or whitish ; the tail is dusky, with a tinge of 

 maroon. 



The Maroon-backed Kite is found throughout the region, 

 abundantly in Sind, but more rarely in Guzerat and Rajputana. 

 It is a permanent resident, breeding on trees in February and 

 March. The eggs, two in number, are oval in shape, greyish 

 white in color, sparingly spotted with dull brownish-red ; they 

 average 2 inches in length by about 1 "64 inches in breadth. 



GENUS, Milvus, Cuvier. 



Bill short, somewhat straight at the base, tip well curved and 

 hooked, upper mandible with a rounded obsolete tooth, or 

 festoon ; nostrils oval, oblique ; wings long, 4th quill, or 3rd and 

 4th, longest ; tail lengthened, forked or emarginate ; tarsus short, 

 plumed above in front, with scutse in front below ; posteriorly 

 naked to the knee, reticulate ; toes rather short ; claws moderate, 

 unequal, and moderately curved ; outer-toe slightly mobile. 



Milvus govinda, Sykes. 



56. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 104 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. Ill, p. 448 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 

 IX, p. 374 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 90 ; Swin- 

 hoe and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 58 ; Hume's 

 Scrap Book, p. 320, 



