EIANUS C^RTJLEUS. 87 



specimens in four years ; and at Thayetmyo Captain Feilden merely notes its occurrence, while Mr. Oates met 

 with it only in the Arracan hills. In Tennasserim Mr. Hume has reason to think it occurs ; and if so, this is 

 its furthest range to the south-east. It has not been met with at the Andamans. In the Laccadives, however, 

 it is a visitant, presumably from the west coast ; and Mr. Hume procured specimens at the islands of Amini 

 and Cardamum. Turning towards Western Asia, we find Mr. Danford observing it in Asia Minor in winter, 

 and Canon Tristram recording it as a summer visitant to Palestine and haunting the thickets on the Jordan, 

 where it is very shy — the reverse of its nature in Egypt, where it is said to be tame and easy to shoot. In 

 South-eastern Europe it occurs as a straggler; and Lord Lilford mentions having seen a specimen killed in 

 Southern Spain. 



The example recorded in 'The Ibis/ 1872, as killed at Harristown Bay on the east coast of Ireland, was 

 probably an escaped bird from some ship. 



As regards Afi'ica, Captain Shelley says that it is abundant in Egypt. On the Gold Coast Mr. H. T. 

 Ussher, now Governor of Labuan, observed it in considerable numbers ; it frequented there low ground sloping 

 towards the sea, and hawked in the evening towards sunset. Mr. T. E. Buckley found it fairly common in 

 Natal ; and Mr. Barratt procured it near Rustenberg ; and it is seen in most South- African collections. 



Habits. — This handsome bird, frequently called the "White Hawk" in the coffee-districts, affects grass- 

 land surrounded by forest, dry pastures interspersed with low timber, cocoa-nut estates, citronella-grass plan- 

 tations, and such spots as are open and dotted here and there with large trees. The maana-grass patna teeming 

 with life and here and there broken by strips of jungle is a favourite resort; or, in the upper hills, a tall dead 

 tree by the border of the lonely forest-begirt " plain " forms an equally appreciated look-out. It is usually a 

 solitary bird, and is abroad at early dawn, lazily flapping its way across the silent jungle-glade to some 

 accustomed perch, where it will sit preening its feathers in the rays of the rising sun, and if disturbed will fly 

 off to the nearest prominent tree, of which it invariably selects the topmost branch to rest on. In some places, 

 however, where no doubt it is very plentiful, it forsakes its solitary habit ; for Mr. Hume writes in his ' Hough 

 Notes,' that he once saw more than a dozen pairs hunting together over the dry reedy bed of a jheel. I have 

 usually found its diet to consist of lizards and large coleoptera; but it is said to carry off wounded birds in 

 India. It likewise feeds on field-mice and rats ; and when quartering over grass-land I have often seen it stop 

 and hover like a Kestrel, but with a slower motion of the wings. Its usual flight is performed with a heavy 

 flapping of the wings ; and this action, combined with its short tail and white plumage, imparts to it much the 

 appearance of a Sea-Gull. I have often admired it, showing its handsome plumage off against the dark green 

 forests in the upper hills, as it would leisurely course round the edge of one of the open patnas, now and then 

 stopping when its attention was arrested by something in the grass beneath it, and hovering for a minute, 

 perhaps rapidly to descend with outstretched talons and uplifted wings, or to resume its quiet tour of obser- 

 vation round the forest. Concerning its economy in India Jerdon writes, " It is not very much on the wing, 

 nor does it soar to any height, but either watches for insects from its perch on a tree or any elevated situation, 

 or takes a short circuit over grain-fields, long grass, or thin jungle, often hovering in the air like a Kestrel, 

 and pounces down on its prey, which is chiefly insects, but also mice and rats, and probably young or feeble 

 birds." 



In Northern Guzerat, Capt. Butler writes (loc. cit.), "it is generally found singly or in pairs. Its modus 

 volandi is very varied. Sometimes it flies lazily along like a Gull ; at other times it sails round and round in 

 circles, often stopping to hover in the air like a Kestrel, as recorded by Dr. Jerdon. Then, again, when hunting, 

 it flies with quite the swiftness and quite the style of a Falcon. I have seen one of these birds stoop and carry 

 a wounded Quail with quite the rapidity and dash of a Peregrine." Concerning this Kite's note, although it 

 is generally a very silent bird (I have never heard its voice, though I have seen it dozens of times), it is said 

 sometimes to utter loud screams. So far back as 1782, Sonnerat, who met with it in his voyages to India, 

 named it the "Petite Buse criarde," doubtless on account of the loud notes it uttered; and Mr. F. A. Barratt 

 writes, in his "Notes on the Birds of the Lydenburg district," South Africa, of one which he shot : — " It attracted 

 my attention by a harsh cry, high in the air, which I thought to be that of an Eagle ; but, to my surprise, I 

 found it proceeded from this bird." 



The Black-winged Kite appears to thrive in confinement. Mr. W. Murray, of the Ceylon Civil Service, 



