MILYUS AEPINIS. 



(Allied Kite.) 



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Head, neck, shoulders, and upper portion of wings, reddish brown, each feather with a black line down the centre ; back, blackish brown, the 

 tip of each feather slightly tinged with brownish buff, the black line down each feather, as in other parts, but less conspicuous ; throat, dirty 

 reddish buff ; all the under surface dull brown, the centre of each feather being reddish brown, with a well-defined black streak in the middle ; 

 greater wing coverts, primaries, and secondaries, brownish black ; tail, greyish brown, indistinctly barred wdth a darker tint ; cere, yellow ; bill, 

 black ; feet, yellowish ; claws, black ; irides, dark brown. This species varies much, some specimens being of a nearly uniform dull brown 

 excepting the shoulders, which are lighter. 



Length, 21 inches ; wing, 15^ ; tail, 10^ ; bill, l^ ; tarsus, 2. 



This bird is spread over the whole of the eastern portion of the Australian continent, from Victoria to Port Essington. It 

 visits Port Albany in large flocks, and after a short sojourn suddenly disappears, probably migrating to the southward. Though always a 

 plentiful species, it has been observed to be more so in dry seasons, when it makes its appearance in great numbers about the towns and 

 settlements, but especially preferring the neighborhood of the slaughter-houses and boiling-down establishments, where the ground is literally 

 blackened with its numbers. Its favorite food being ofial, as long as any of that is to be obtained it is contented, but it has been known 

 occasionally to carry off" chickens. Though its disposition is rather timid than otherwise it has been seen to snatch food from the hands of 

 children, and it may be even rendered familiar to some extent, as it is on various stations, where persons amuse themselves by throwing pieces 

 of meat into the air for it to catch, which it does very dexterously. It may often be seen to pounce down on floating substances in rivers and 

 sudden]}^ dipping its claws in the water to seize the same, which, if suitable for food, is often devoured upon the wing. Small animals 

 swimming never fail to attract its notice, but it does not venture to lift any beyond its strength. Its flight, though sluggish, is easy, graceful, 

 and generally at no great height above the surface of the ground, which it may be observed examining carefully as it glides along. 

 The slightly forked tail is used with great address, and enables the bird to make very sudden turns in its course. Its voice is a loud and 

 shrill whistle. 



