J 843.] Catalogue of Nepdlese Birds. 307 



Voyage de M. Belanger, p. 217. A second species of this division 

 exists in the L. (olim Buteo) punctatus, Jerdon, Supplement.] 



7. Falco [shaheen, Jerdon, Madr. Jl. No. XXIV, 81.] 



8. Pernis \_Ellioti, apud Jerdon, to whom the specimens were trans- 

 mitted for examination. I must confess, however, that I am by no 

 means satisfied of the distinctions pointed out between this and the 

 P. cristata, Cuvier, vel Falco ptilorhynchus, Tem. ; specimens of both 

 being before me so labelled by Mr. Jerdon; and one of the latter 

 minutely agrees with the description of P. maculosa, Lesson, in the 

 Zoologie du Voyage de M. Be'langer, except in possessing a distinct 

 crest. Now I am unaware that any good distinction has hitherto been 

 remarked between the P. cristata and P. apivora, further than that 

 the European bird is never crested, both being alike variable in 

 plumage; and I see that the latter is enumerated among Dr. Royle's 

 birds procured at Saharunpore. In reference to the value of the 

 character derivable from the presence of a crest, it may be remarked 

 that Mr. Hodgson describes a variety of Spiza'elus niveus (his Nisaetus 

 Nipale?isis, J. A. S. V, 229), having " a drooping Egret-like crest of 

 two long, narrow, composed plumes"; whereas in general, and in all 

 cases observed by me, this species has merely a very slight indication 

 of such a crest at any age. Nevertheless, the prevalence of the crest 

 in Indian Perns, and its invariable absence in those of Europe, are 

 sufficiently remarkable; and probably indicate an aboriginal distinct- 

 ness of species, though perhaps sufficiently allied to breed and merge 

 together where they inhabit the same localities. M. Lesson also speaks 

 of a P. torquata, P. ruficollis, and a P. alhogularis, referring to his 

 Traite oV Orniihologie ; but if reposing only on differences of colour, 

 I should be very slow to accept such diversities as specific]. 



9. Milvinai. Genus [Haliastur^ Gould.] Haliaetus !! Pondicerianus, 

 Auct. type. \Milvus Pondicerianus, apud Jerdon.] Leads from Eagles 

 to Buzzards. [It is curious to remark the difference of opinion ex- 

 pressed with regard to the systematic position of this well known 

 species. Thus Mr. Hodgson writes : — " Those who have classed the 

 Brahminee Cheel of India with the fishing Eagles, may be safely said 

 to know as little of the structure, as of the habits, of that paltry 

 Milvine bird," &c. (J. A. S. VI, 368.) And Mr. Jerdon "nearly 

 agrees" with him in opinion ; even ranging it, as we have seen, in 



