MILVUS. 73 



Genus MILVUS. 



The genus Milvus was established by Cuvier in 1800, in his ' Lecons 

 d' Anatomic Comparee/ i. tabl. 2. Previous to that date the Kites were 

 included in the genus Falco of Linnaeus. Cuvier did not designate any 

 type ; but inasmuch as the Falco mihus of Linnaeus is the Common Kite, 

 it has the greatest claim to be considered the type. 



The Kites differ from all the genera previously mentioned in having 

 the lower half of the front of the tarsus furnished with broad plates, 

 contrasting with the fine reticulations on the sides and back. From all 

 the genera hereafter described they differ in combining a long tail with 

 a short tarsus, the former being more than four times the length of the 

 latter. 



The true Kites are confined to the Old World, but have distant relations 

 in the Xew. Two species are in the British list, though one of them is 

 only admitted by courtesy. Besides these the genus contains no species 

 except the local races of the Black Kite which are mentioned in the article 

 on that bird. The Kites resemble the Eagles and the Buzzards very 

 closely in their habits, and are very nearly allied to the Sea-Eagles. 

 Like them they build in trees and sometimes in cliffs, but they have the 

 peculiarity of preferring wool, rags, and paper as a lining to the nest. 

 Their eggs are often scarcely distinguishable from those of the Buzzard 

 nor is there much difference in their mode of flight or in their choice 

 of food. 



