THE BLACK KITE. 169 



since 1910 about twenty or more. Nested Devon 1913 and seen 

 same year in Somerset, Derby, and probably Bucks., and in 1917 

 in Perthshire but only a rare migrant elsewhere than in breeding 

 haunts. Recorded occurrences in Ireland cannot be substantiated 

 (R>. J. Ussher, List of Irish Birds, p. 28). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — From south Sweden throughout Europe, 

 east to Russia ; north-west Africa and western Canary Islands. 

 North European birds are migratory, but do not seem to cross the 

 Sahara. Replaced by allied subspecies in Cape Verde Islands. 



MILVUS MIGRANS* 



264. Milvus migrans migrans (Bodd.) — THE BLA.CK KITE. 



Falco migraxs Boddaert, Tables Planches Enl., No. 472, p. 28 (1783 — 



Based on Daubenton's pi. 472, several countries of Europe mentioned, 



typical locality : France (Hartert 1914) ). 



Milvus korschun korschun (Gm.) Hand-List 1912, p. 119. 



Milvus ater, Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B., 1, p. 80. 



Milvus migrans (Boddaert), Yarrell, 1, p. 97 ; Saunders, p. 337. 



Description. — Adult male and female. Winter and summer. — 

 Crown and nape brownish-white, often with a rufous tinge, closely 

 streaked black, feathers narrow and rather pointed ; rest of upper- 

 parts very dark brown, usually uniform but sometimes with tips 

 of some feathers dark rufous especially on upper mantle and upper 

 tail-coverts when freshly moulted ; basal portions of scapulars 

 barred ; feathers of lores with black bristle-like tips and white 

 tufts at base ; ear-coverts, sides of neck, chin and throat w r hite 

 or whitish-brown streaked brown-black ; breast varying greyish- 

 brown to rufous -brown, feathers rather pointed and with wide 

 mesial brown-black streaks, which are outlined with pale brown ; 

 rest of under-parts more rufous-brown with narrow black shaft - 

 streaks, amount of rufous varying individually but brightest on 

 lower belly, tibia and under tail-coverts (occasionally these parts 

 nearly as bright as in M . milvus) ; axillaries and under wing-coverts 

 as in M. milvus but edgings not so bright rufous ; tail-feathers 

 brown, sometimes with a rufous tinge, barred black-brown ; outer 

 primaries with long black tips, proximal portions brow r n, inner webs 

 mottled pale brown to greyish-white, sometimes purer white at 

 extreme base, inner primaiies dark brown with faint blackish bars 

 on inner webs ; secondaries with blackish tips tinged purplish, 

 inner webs brown barred blackish, innermost feathers paler and 

 sometimes with basal part of inner webs white or whitish ; greater 

 wing-coverts much as secondaries ; median and lesser coverts dark 

 brown with blackish shafts and pale brown or rufous edgings vary- 

 ing individually but usually rufous. This plumage is acquired 



* The name korschun has for many years been adopted for the Black 

 Kite, but the description does not refer to a Kite, but apparently to a young 

 Marsh-Harrier. — E.H. 



