SOME OF THE FAMILIAR BIRDS OF INDIA. 463 
every kind of burden upon the top of their heads, and it is no 
uncommon thing for a kite to make a sudden swoop and possess 
himself of a part of their burden, when it is anything that he 
desires for food. Ihave seen them attempt to seize food out of 
the hand of a man. It was done so quickly that the audacious 
tobber, whether successful or not, was far away before the aston- 
ished victim could recover from his surprise. They consider it, 
however, much safer to take liberties with children than with older 
people. Several years ago my own child, then two years old, was 
accustomed to take a piece of bread in his hand and go out each 
afternoon to play in the shadow of. the bungalow. On several 
Successive days we were suddenly aroused by a great outery from 
the child, and on going to him found that a kite had unceremo- 
niously robbed him of his food. I made every effort to shoot the 
troublesome bird, but, as if aware of my purpose, it quickly 
disappeared whenever I came in sight. At length, however, after 
Several days’ manceuvring, quite contrary to its usual custom it 
cautiously flew over my head, and—well! it troubled the child 
0 more, 
Mr, Hume says that.“ there are certainly two distinct species of 
kites in India.” The second species is much larger than M. Go- 
_ Wada, and Mr. Hume has named it M. major. It is “a wild wary 
bird, very difficult to approach and is found only in the open fields, 
" in swamp or jungle.” Hence very few specimens of this 
larger kite” have ever been obtained, although it has been re- 
Peatedly seen, recognized and pursued, both by Mr. Hume and 
others. Besides this, Mr. Hume thinks that it is by no means im- 
Probable that the Australian M. afinis and the Chinese M. mela- 
notis may be found within our limits. The Indian kites seem never 
to haye been examined with that thoronghness with which most 
Other families of Indian birds have been. Certain it is that in the 
Steat multitude of kites all about us, there is a vast difference in 
ad of the individuals, both in respect to size and coloring ; but 
rhether this is owing to a difference of speciés, or only to the 
| “nditions of age and sex, can be determined only by careful ex- 
: whe n of a large series of specimens. Milvus Govinda seems 
, ° nearly confined to India, Burmah and Ceylon. A few spec- 
Ne only have been recorded from the Andaman Islands. 
o Brama. The spotted owlet. 
Mpselus afinis, The common Indian swift. Very abundant 
