THE PUNJAB, AND SIND. 467 



under the wings, being* only mottled with white there. If 

 Mr. Hume were to shoot numbers of the Lesser Kite* at 

 different places, he would find there is no room for a third 

 or intermediate species between govinda and ajinis. 



Mr. Hume still clings to the idea that Sykes's bird is the 

 small one, so I reproduce the original description as follows : — 



"17.— Milvus govinda. 



Milv. capite, nucha corporeque suhtus rufescenti hrunneis, 

 plumis in medio fusco lineatis ; dorso, alis, cauddque satis 

 furcatd saturate brunneisy illarum pteromatibus palUdioribus, 

 hac fusco obsolete fasciaio. 



Longitudo corporis 26 unc, cauda 11." 



With such a total length, exactly that of the big Kite, and 

 with such a tail, how can this description apply to the Lesser 

 22-inch Kite ? Then, again, one of Sykes's two types is the 

 Large Kite, and labelled govinda by Sykes himself, so the two 

 proofs combined ought to settle the matter I think. Messrs. 

 Gurney and Hume having made a mistake with their three 

 Kites, all the ornithological world seems committed to the 

 error. As in the fashionable delusion of " Pipastes agilis'^ 

 so with that of a small Milvus govinda there is no know- 

 ing when it will end. One thing I am sure of — the term 

 melanotis has no more right to stand for the Large Kite than 

 I have. 



It will make this list too long and wearisome to note all 

 the birds I saw, so I shall pass on to those requiring notice. 



124.— Coracias affinis, McClell. 



This species has only five light blue bars on outer primaries, 

 while indicus has six ; i.e., six feathers have the patch of pale blue. 

 Affinis is a larger bird, and much more beautiful. The very 

 diff'erent backs and breasts are quite enough to separate them. 



Mr. MoUer found a pair at a nest, one being indiea and the 

 other ajinis. This, however, does not prove identity any more 

 than the interbreeding of the Red and Black Grrouse does. 



Coracias indiea, a Sehwan (Sind) bird, is very pale. 



127.— Pelargopsis gurial, Pears. 



This is not uncommon about Siligoree and at places in the 

 Sikhim Terai. 



* It is a pure waste of time to go on discussing this point, but I may say that my 

 conclusions were arrived at with a series of more than 100 Kites from all parts of 

 India before me. It is my friend Mr. Brooks who has never had a really large series 

 before him. As a fact there are three recognizable races, you may make 1, 2 or 3 

 species out of them, just as you prefer. — A, O. H. 



