160 



Gen. LXXIX. GYPOICTINIA Kaup (1847). 

 Type by monotypy Buteo melanosternon Gould. 



Bill not toothed ; head crested ; ioral space 

 feathered ; wings reaching to end of tail ; greater 

 part of tarsus bare in front. Size large (length 

 24 in.). 



257. Gypoictinia melanosterna (Gould), P.Z.S., 

 1840, p. 162 (1841). [N.S. Wales, type 

 in Mus. Philad. Acad.] 

 Blackbreasted Kite. 



Wing (J 445-460, ? 465-470, tail 215 mm. ; 

 general plumage above blackish, margined 

 with rufous especially on rump ; crest and 

 nape tawny rufous with black centres to 

 the feathers ; below pale tawny rufous, 

 with black shaft-lines ; tail ashy brown 

 above, whitish near base below ; primaries 

 white on inner webs. Dark phase [old or 

 melanistic ?] above much blacker ; breast 

 black. 



Interior of 

 N.S. Wales, 

 S. AustraHS,, 

 W. Australia, 

 Northern 

 Territory. 



Gen. LX,XX. ELANUS Savigny (1809). 

 Type by monotypy E. cessius Sav. ^Falco cceruleus Desf. 



Tarsus feathered for nearly two-thirds of its length 

 in front ; claws without groove on under surface. 

 Size small (length 12-14 in.) ; sexes nearly similar 

 in size. 



t*258. Elanus cceruleus ctsruleus (Desf.) M6m. 

 Acad. R. des Sciences, 1787, p. 503, pi. xv. 

 (1789). [Near Algiers.} 

 African Black- winged Kite. 



Wing ad. 272-285, tail 130 mm. ; above 

 ashy grey, lighter on head ; forehead, eye- 

 brow, and face white ; feathers round eye 

 black ; lesser and median wing-coverts and 



Africa, from 

 Mediterranean 

 to the Cape and 

 Madagascar ; 

 Palestine, 

 S.W. Asia (?) 



