Contributions to the Ornithology of India, See. 161 



the adjacent laterals are much more conspicuous in major than 

 in either of the other species. Another difference, which though 

 not absolutely constant, is yet highly characteristic of the adiilt 

 31. major, is the much greater extent to which, in this species, 

 the back of the tibio-tarsal articulation, and of the upper half 

 inch or so of the tarsus, is feathered. In govinda and ajffinis, these 

 parts are usually quite bare ; they may be loosely overlnmg with 

 feathers ; but these can be brushed aside at once, whereas in adult 

 M. major, they are densely clothed with silky feathers which, 

 though they do not grow over the whole surface, yet sit so close- 

 ly round it as to be with considerable difficulty pushed aside. 

 This distinction does not hold good in the young. Perhaps, 

 however, the most marked difference (independant of the great 

 difference in size which may be estimated from the dimensions of 

 the wings"^) consists in the large pui'e white patch on the inner 

 webs of the primaries of major ; in govinda and aj[finis,i\\Q prima- 

 ries have the inner webs more or less brownish white at the ex- 

 treme base, and the rest of the web above the deep notch 

 has lai-ge, mottled, irregularly oval transverse spots or imperfect 

 bars of a more or less dingy white, while in major (strictly in 

 accordance with its buzzard-like flight and habits) almost the 

 whole of the inner webs above the notches is pure white. With 

 the fresh birds before him, no one looking at the under surface 

 of the extended wings, can ever mistake major for either of the 

 other two species. This large white patch is conspicuously appa- 

 rent when the bird is flying overhead. In this as in the other 

 species, there is no very great difference in size between the 

 sexes. As to the difference in the hahits of M. major, there are 

 no two opinions on the subject. Mr. Bi-ookes says, " I have seen 

 several Milvns major lately, two yesterday ; there is no mistake 

 about the bird, the flight is quite different, very slow, heavy, 

 flapping, not more than two strokes to the common one's three. 

 These birds sometimes quarter a marsh all over," 



Writing from the Haipoor Division, Central Provinces, Mr. 



* Adttits. 



Species. Number of Wings. Number of Wings, 



males measured. females measured. 



M. govinda ... 7 175 to 18- 10 18 to 19-5 



„ major ... 12 19 to 20-5 12 19-45 to 21 



„ affinis ..._ 7 16 to 17-5 5 17tol7-75 



N. B. — Affinis, so far as I can make out, differs only from qovinda in its duller 

 tints and smaller size. Schlegel unites melanotis and govinda. I hnve specimens 

 of the latter very nearly as brigbtly coloured as Ms figure of the former in the 

 Fauna Jap. Mr. Gurney's remark that there is no appreciable difference between 

 the young and old of M. affinis, does not hold good in the Indian affinis, though 

 our adults are absolutely inseparable from Australian specimens. 



