18/2.] RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF INDIA. 623 



hair-brown and entirely spotless ; the wings and tail also are free 

 from bars, which are so characteristic of the younger stage. In this 

 stage it strongly resembles pale specimens of A. ncevia ; and any one 

 not acquainted with the very different structure of the two birds 

 might mistake it for a small adult of that species. 



ElJTOLMAETTJS BONELLII, Temm. 



In reference to the tree-nesting propensity of this species, pre- 

 viously alluded to (p. 76), I have only to add that I found two nests 

 this season, both of them built on lofty peepul trees. They each 

 coutained a pair of eggs, remarkable for being well stained with de- 

 cayed vegetable matter, notwithstanding they were quite fresh, and 

 for the absence of all colouring matter. 



The nests measured respectively 3| feet X 2, and 4|feetxl^. 

 Both of them were perfect plane surfaces, with no perceptible depres- 

 sion in the centre ; and in both cases fresh green twigs were used as a 

 nest-lining. The first nest contained two mango twigs, measuring 

 respectively 1 1 \ and 8 inches long, with thirteen and ten green 

 leaves adhering to them. These were nibbled all over by the birds 

 while performing the task of incubation ; but with what object, it is 

 impossible to conjecture. 



The season of incubation is confined to the coldest time of the 

 year, viz. from about the 25th of December to the end of January. 



The first nest above alluded to was watched by me while in "the 

 course of construction ; and I noticed one morning that the female 

 bird was still in the immature garb. I was fortunate enough to 

 shoot her off the nest ; and her general plumage below is what I take 

 to be about three years old : the breast has become white, but the 

 lower belly and thighs are still of a buffy fawn-colour. 



MlLVTJS ? 



The small Marsh-Kite I have before referred to (p. 79) first made 

 their appearance in ones and tv> os before the end of September ; and 

 they were then terribly wild, just as much so as Milvus major. Later 

 in the season (December and January) they became gregarious, and 

 confined themselves to marshes and grassy swamps. As the season 

 advanced, so their wariness seemed to wear off ; and as the country 

 dried up they began associating with the village Kites, till they 

 became just as audacious as their allies M. govinda. 



I have seen as many as fifty of the small Marsh-Kite on the wing 

 at a time ; and the conspicuous white or pale-buff patches under the 

 wings suffice to distinguish them from the village Kites at a glance. 



Early in the season the Marsh-Kites appear to keep to open 

 country, and then do not intermingle with the other species ; but I 

 have come across numerous places where villages are situated on the 

 banks of swamps ; and then, of course, both kinds are always to be 

 seen together. They have now (14th March) nearly vanished, and 

 bv the end of the month I do not think one will be left. 



