A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF GILGIT. 95 
the first part to become grey; and at this stage the iris is of 
some shade intermediate between brown and yellow. 
23.—Milvus melanotis, Tem. § Schl. (56 bis.) 
The Kite referred to by Major Biddulph under the name 
of Milvus govinda, and which I call M. melanotis, is a migra- 
tory species in Gilgit, appearing as early as the 2nd February, 
and passing over the valley in large flocks until the beginning 
of May. In five males the wings measure 19:25 to 20 inches ; 
tail, 12°7 to 13; tarsus, 2 to 2:2. Ina female, wing, 203; tail, 
3 = tarsus, 2:2. 
I cannot agree with Captain Marshall that Mr. Brooks has ~ Li 
conclusively shown that Milvus melanotis (=M. major, | 
Hume) should be called AZ. govinda. Following Mr. Gurney 
(Ibis, 1879, p. 76}, it seems necessary to recognize three 
races of Kites in India, under the names of Jf. melanotis, 
M. govinda, and M. afinis. Of course if these three forms are 
to be considered as constituting only one species, they must 
all be joined under the title of M. govinda. 
Milvus govinda, Sykes. (56.) 
This medium-sized Kite, which is not included in Major 
Biddulph’s list, appears to be a straggler to Gilgit, probably 
from some of the valleys to the south, where it may be resi- 
dent. I obtained two adult females in April, which have the 
wings 18°8 and 18°9 inches, aud the tails 11‘3 and 12. These, 
it will be noticed, are conspicuously smaller than even the 
males of the race I call MZ. melanotis. I at first thought that 
these two specimens might be Milvus migrans, which has been 
recorded from Afghanistan ; but on comparison with specimens 
of the latter species from Sarepta, it became evident that the 
Gilgit birds are distinct. 
24.—Syrnium biddulphi, Sp. Nov. (66.) 
Adult female.—Crown and space between the facial disks 
uniform blackish brown; occiput, nape and hind neck dark 
brown, the feathers indented on the margins with greyish 
white, giving a spotted appearance to this region ; back, 
minor and median wing-coverts, rump and upper tail-coverts 
greyish brown, profusely vermiculated with greyish white ; 
the scapulars and median wing-coverts with large white spots 
on their outer webs ; primaries and their coverts dark brown, 
with pale ochraceous-brown bars and tips, which are stippled 
with dark brown; the bars on the outer webs of the third to 
sixth primaries creamy white, slightly mottled with brown ; 
secondaries pale brown, freckled with irregular greyish white 
