BETWEEN MUSSOORI AND GANGAOTRI IN MAY 1874. 229 



bird is equally at home. All were of the true pale or European 

 type, and not the dark toned bird that I procured in Kumaon. 

 Sikhim Kestrils, which I have seen, arc also of the European type. 



24.— Accipiter nisus, Lin. 



Seen three or four times, and two procured; both being 

 adult males. One near Gangaotri, 18th May, and the other 

 at Suki, 22nd May. It is a scarce bird in the hills. 



32. — Neopus malaiensis, Reinw. 



A fine female was procured near Dhanolti in the end of 

 May, on my return journey. This bird is not common, for it 

 was the only one I saw. 



33.— Nissetus Bonellii, Tern. 



I saw a pair near Sansoo in the end of May, and obtained 

 the female. Sansoo is the low part of the valley, and not far 

 from Teeree. 



36.— Spizaetus nipalensis, Eodgs. 



A white breasted immature bird was seen at Derali. 



39.— Spilornis cheela, Baud. 



Was frequently seen in the lesser ranges. One was obtained 

 not far from Sansoo. 



54.— Circus aeruginosus, Lin. 



I saw one about the third of May flying along the Aglar 

 river, which is not far from Mussoori. 



55. — Milvus govinda, Sykes. 



{Milvus major, Hume, and Milvus melanotis, Temm. and 

 Schleg.) The larger Kite, and evidently that described by 

 Sykes,* is tolerably common at Mussoori. I met with it as far 

 as Barahath on the Bhagiruttee. 



* I must absolutely dissent to this identification; my major may be melanotis, Tem., 

 though, that is still, I think, a doubtful question, but in my opinion it certainly is not 

 govinda, Sykes. 



According to Mr. Brooks' views we have only two Kites in India ; in my opinion we 

 have most distinctly three, viz., affinis, Gould, comparatively rare, but more plentiful to 

 the south and east, govinda, Sykes, the common Kite everywhere, and major (or 

 it may be melanotis), rare, except in the hills; found in the plains chiefly in the cold 

 •weather, and almost if not entirely unknown in Southern India. 



Sykes' description is to be found at p. 81 of the P. Z. S. for 1832, and the only 

 single point in this that could guide us is the length 26 inches and tail 11 inches. 

 Sykes' measurements were taken from his dried skins. We all know how natives drag 

 out the necks, and a bad skin of govinda might well measure 26, when the fresh bird 

 is sometimes 25. Govinda varies in length from 22 to 25, and has a tail of from 11 to 

 13. Major varies from 26 to 28, and has a tail of from 12 to 14. So far as dimensions go, 

 then, there is nothing to lead us to conclude that govinda was the largest of our three 

 Kites; on the contrary, the inference would be that it was the medium-sized one. 



