606 

 THE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB. 



BY 



C. H. Donald,. F.Z.S., m.b.o.u. 

 Continued from page 300 q/ this volume. 

 Part VII. 

 A Key to the Birds of Prey on the Wing. 



In the preceding papers I have not taken very much count of colour 

 which, as has already, often, been pointed out, is so liable to change 

 and is at best deceptive, as anything in the way of a basis for the 

 identification of the Birds of Prey, and when other and more reliable 

 factors are forthcoming, there is not much lost in leaving colour 

 alone. 



On the wing, however, with the bird anything from 30 to a 1,000 

 yards away, colour naturally plays the most important part, com- 

 bined with size, shape, and manner of flying. 



The following Key can only be accepted as a rough and ready 

 method of identifying the birds named, and its shortcomings are 

 many, and it is hardly to be hoped that any person, picking it up, 

 will be successful, straight off, in recognising the various species 

 that are to be seen, by consulting it. It only endeavours to bring 

 into prominence the chief characteristics of the birds with which 

 it deals, as ordinarily seen in a bird flying over-head, and with its 

 help and a little practice, it is hoped that a great number of the 

 species will be identified and become familiar objects even to the 

 novice, thus enhancing his interest in the fauna around him, and, 

 perhaps, adding to the ranks of observers, and our knowledge of our 

 feathered friends. 



Before going further it is necessary to explain that the adjectives 

 used with regard to wings and tail are only comparative, and must 

 not be taken literally. " Tail long ", for instance, does not mean 

 that you must look for something in the way of a pheasant or a Para- 

 dise Flycatcher. It merely means that if regarded carefully it will 

 be seen that in some it projects a little further from the body than 

 in others, in which the term " medium " or " short " is used. Look 

 at a Vulture's tail, as it flies past and then turn to a Kite, and see 

 the difference. 



I call the first " short " and the other " long " whereas many others 

 come in between the two, as " medium ". Again, I speak of " wings 

 broad ". 



This only means " broad " in proportion to its size as compared 

 with other birds of prey. Again look at a Vulture and then at 

 a Kite, or an Eagle. A very little careful observation will suffice 



