252 FIRST LIST OF THE BIRDS OF 



The nest was of the common Kite type, of twigs with a lining 

 of cow's hair and a few grasses. On the 20th November 1877 

 I noticed one of the above pair carrying twigs up to this Pee- 

 pul tree, which was in my factory compound. I sent a man 

 up ever so often to see if there were any eggs, but it was the 

 27th February before they were secured. Mr. Oates (S. F., 

 Vol. V., p. 142) also alludes to the length of time taken by this 

 species to build. This bird is not very particular about its food ; 

 fish, frogs, chickens, anything, so long as it is alive. Whenever 

 the natives fish in the beels in gangs during the hot weather, 

 dozens of this species hover over head and pounce on the fish 

 as they rise to the surface. 



56.—* Milvus govinda, Sykes. 



Excessively common and a permanent resident ; breeds in the 

 cold weather. On the 18th November 1877 I found a nest 

 high up, and in the centre of a large Peepul tree with two 

 very slightly-incubated eggs; it was a large nest of twigs, and had 

 a deal of powdered mud inside, but whether used as a lining 

 or droppings from the bird's feet, I cannot say ; the birds made 

 no show of defending their nest. On the 18th January 1878, 

 from tliis same nest, I took another egg (this was addled), but 

 could not say if the original pair were still hanging about ; 

 the man who went up for the last-mentioned egg got clawed 

 by the pair. 



59.— Elanus caeruleus, Desf. 



Uh December 187 7, Male.— Length, 11-70; expanse, 32'; 

 wing, 10'42 ; tail from vent, 5*33; tarsus, 1/12; bill from 

 gape, 1*0; bill at front, including cere, 0*75 ; closed wings 

 exceed end of tail, 0-42. Irides crimson. 



23rd January 1878, Female. — Length, 11*08 ; expanse, 

 32*75 ; wing, 10*08; tail from vent, 5*0; tarsus, 1*15; bill 

 from gape, 1*12; bill at front, including cere, 0*67; closed 

 wings exceed end of tail, 1*0. Irides crimson. 



Pretty common and a permanent resident, as I have observed 

 birds all the year round, and on the 15th July 1877 saw one 

 fly to the top of a Ficus tree with a twig in its mouth ; the nest 

 was in a fork on one of the small topmost branches and 

 fully 60 feet high. On the 25th July I sent a man up, but there 

 were no eggs ; the nest was eventually deserted. I have shot 

 birds in the cold weather with yellow irides ; they are very 

 silent birds. On one occasion I saw one of these birds worrying 

 a S. rutherfordi, which was seated on the top of a bush ; the 

 Elanus kept stooping at, but never clawed the other. 



