It is found in Southern Germany ; but Dr. Anton Fritsch says that it is rarer in Bohemia than 

 the common Kite, though he thinks it probable that it breeds there. The late Mr. E. Seidensacher 

 informed me that it has been obtained in Styria ; and it appears to be met with, though rarely, 

 in Austria. Messrs. Danford and Harvie-Brown write, in their article on the ornithology of 

 Transylvania (Ibis, 1875, p. 295) : — " Very common in the Mezoseg. We saw many near Tohat, 

 where we found them nesting. Woods being scarce in that district, the tree-building birds are 

 brought into close contact, and on one occasion we found a Black Kite, a Eaven, and a Hooded 

 Crow breeding close to each other. In other parts of the country the present species appears 

 to be less common." I met with it in Wallachia, and believe that I saw it in Servia ; and Mr. C. 

 Farman, who observed it in Bulgaria, says that it was not uncommon about the Devna lakes and 

 in the Pravidy valley, but he seldom noticed it much higher up the country. 



Dr. Kriiper says that it is somewhat rare in Greece, and he thinks that it scarcely breeds on 

 the lakes in the north ; but he found many nesting in the swampy wood of Langada, about four 

 hours' journey from Thessalonica, and saw as many as twenty pairs circling in the air at the same 

 time. It occurs in Turkey, being abundant about Constantinople, where Alleon and Vian 

 observed immense flocks in August 1868 ; and Professor von Nordmann records it as being 

 numerous in Southern Russia. It is found in Asia Minor; and Canon Tristram, writing on 

 its occurrence in Palestine, says (Ibis, 1865, p. 256), "No sooner has the Red Kite begun to 

 retire northwards than the Black Kite, never once seen in winter, returns in immense numbers 

 from the south, and, about the beginning of March, scatters itself over the whole country of 

 Palestine, preferring especially the neighbourhood of villages, where it is a welcome and 

 unmolested guest, and certainly does not appear to attack the poultry, among which it may 

 often be seen feeding on garbage. It is not strictly gregarious, though very sociable ; and the 

 slaughter of a sheep near the tents will soon attract a large party of Kites, which swoop down, 

 regardless of man and guns, and enjoy a noisy scramble for the refuse, chasing each other in a 

 laughable fashion, and sometimes enabling the wily Raven to steal off with the coveted morsel 

 during their contention." Mr. C. W. Wyatt, who found it in abundance on the highlands of 

 Edom and at Petra, says that be believes it is a spring visitant to the Sinaitic peninsula. In 

 Africa it is widely distributed ; but there is considerable discrepancy in the records of its occur- 

 rence in Egypt, where, as far as I can judge, it appears to be much less numerous than the 

 Arabian Kite, and does not remain there to breed. Von Heuglin says that he believes it is only 

 a winter visitant in North-east Africa, and that, according to Hartmann, it occurs as far south 

 as the Fundj Mountains. It is certainly found in Abyssinia ; for Mr. Blanford writes, it is 

 " extremely common everywhere, both on the highlands and lowlands. As I brought several 

 specimens with me from various localities, I have certainly not mistaken M. cegyptius for this 

 bird." In North-western Africa it is common, and remains to breed in some parts. Loche says 

 that it is common along the coast of all three provinces of Algeria, and it breeds in the Atlas 

 range, but does not occur to the south of those mountains. Mr. Taczanowski found it common 

 in winter on Lake Fezzara ; and he also met with it in many other parts. Favier says (fide 

 Colonel Irby) that it is " seen near Tangier in immense flights, which pass over to Europe in 

 February and March, to return in August and September. Many remain to breed, awaiting the 

 return migration from Europe, when they all disappear for the winter." It has been obtained at 



