On the breeding of Elaniis Melanopterus. 21 



beautiful, and for its size most powerful, little falcon. In both 

 specimens the sexes were ascertained and recorded by, I need 

 not say, careful observers. The female was measured in the 

 flesh, and I append her dimensions as well as a few of those of 

 the male taken from the dry skins. It will be seen that while 

 the wings agTce well enough with Mr. Salvin^s measurements, 

 the female bird as measured in the flesh was very considerably 

 longer than he estimated his from the dry skin. 



Dimensions. — (Female killed on the 16th December, 1869, 

 Nursingpoor.) Lengtli, ] h'b inches ; expanse, 36*4 inches ; wing, 

 11'4 inches ; tail, 6'1< inches ; tarsus, 1'8 inch ; mid toe to root of 

 claw, 1*8 inch ; its claw straight, 0*7 inch; hind toe, 0'8 inch -, 

 its claw, 0'78 inch; inner toe, 1*1 inch; its claw, 0'68 inch ; 

 bill straight from edge of cere to point, 0*7 inch ; from gape, 

 1*1 inch; width of gape, I'l incli ; height at front at margin of 

 cere, 0*42 inch; length of cere, 0'3 inch; closed wings extend 

 1*9 inch beyond end of tail. Lower tail coverts fall short of end 

 of tail by 1'25 inch; 1st quills, 0'35, 3rd quills, O'o, 4th quill, 

 I'l inches shorter tlian 2nd, which is longest. Exterior tail 

 feathers, 0"4 inches, shorter than central ones. Weight, 1 lb. 2 oz. 



(Male killed January, 1872, in Cutch.) Length, (actual of 

 skin, 12*75 inches, say in life about) 14 inches; wing, 10"8 

 inches; tail, 5 inches; tarsus, 1*6 inches, actually feathered in 

 front for about 0'6 inch; mid toe to root of claw, 1*63 inch; 1st 

 primary, 0" 3 inch; 2nd, 0'55, and 4th, 1'15 shorter than the 

 2nd, which is longest. 



The great size of the feet of the male, as compared with the 

 size of the whole bird, is very conspicuous. 



A. O. H. 



)\x t|e buebiitg d ilainis Sl^laitij^tertis. 



Nothing accurate has, as far as I know, yet been published 

 about the breeding- of the black-winged kite. Common as this 

 species is during the cold season in many parts of India, it has 

 hitherto eluded most of our Indian oologists. 



The merit of taking the firat nest of this species belongs to 

 my friend, Mr. T. R. Blewitt, to whom I owe more rare eggs 

 than to any one else in India. Mr. Blewitt's extraordinary practical 

 knowledge of the habits of birds and his persevering observations 

 of them render it difficult for any species that breeds within 

 twenty miles of his station to escape him, Graucnliis Macil, Volvo- 

 civora Melaschistos , Brachjurus Corouatas, and many others first. 



