KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 50. N:0 8. 63 



organs greatly swelled. The birds were very shy and alwaj^s took flight before one 

 could get at all near to them. 



This fine species inhabits Burma, Pegu, Siarn, Borneo, Java and Celebes. 



The male specimen in my collection has a wing measiiring 265 mm. Iris bright 

 yellow. 



140. Haliastur indus Bodd. — The Brahminy Kite was very common in 

 Bangkok and along the Menam Chao Phaya river and its tributaries. It also 

 oceurred in great numbers on the big swamps round Tha Law and soutli of the 

 town of Pitsannlok. 



A specimen shot at Tha Law on the 4tli of April is showing the foUowing 



measures. 



Length=460 mm. 

 Wing =376 * 

 Tail =218 » 



141. Milvus govinda Sykes. — Very common botli in Bangkok and its environs 

 as well as in some of the other towns and villages in Central Siam. 



142. Elanus caeruleus Desf. — When staying in Bangkok I also made some 

 short excnrsions in the neighbourliood and on the 24th of December 1911, I got a 

 fine male specimen of the Black-winged Kite. This was the only specimen I got, 

 though I also observed it from the train on the plains south of the town of Pit- 

 sannlok. 



J* -Vi-' 1011 Bangkok. 

 Length=320 mm. 

 Wing =279 >> 

 Tail =140 > 

 Iris = red. 



143. Circus aeruginosus L. — The Marsh-Harrier is a common winter visitor 

 in India, Ceylon and Burma and I also found it in great numbers both round Bang- 

 kok and on the swamps and rice-fields in Central Siam at the end of April and the 

 beginning of ]\Iay. 



144. Astur poliopsis Hume. — During my stay at Pak Pan in Northern 

 Siam I often used to set fire to the high grass in the dry forests and bamboo thickets 

 in order to get birds, which always came in great numbers as soon as the smoke 

 rose. One of the first birds to come on such occasions was alwa3's the Shikra, 

 which seems to live more on insects and worms than on other animals. They were 

 rather shy at first, but when the fire flamed up they forgot their fear and I could 

 observe them from near at hand without need of any concealment. The}^ generall}^ 

 took the insects on the wing, but they also examined the tree-trunks very carefully. 

 However, I never saw them catching insects on the gronnd. Where the}" all come 

 from I cannot make out, but as soon as the fire gained ground these pretty hawks 



