Ceylon Ornithology. 147 



margins furnished with two small teeth near the tip, the 

 lower mandible also furnished with small teeth near the tip; 

 lores clothed with small feathers; the nostrils placed in the 

 cere, in the form of an oblique slit. Wings lengthened, nearly 

 reaching to the end of the tail, with the third and fourth quills 

 the longest. Tail long and broad. Tarsi thick and very- 

 short, longer than the middle toe ; basal half plumed, and the 

 other part covered with small scales. Toes thick, free at their 

 base, the inner longer than the outer; the claws small and. 

 acute. 



Genus. Milvus. Cuv. 

 Bill laterally compressed, the culmen straight at the base, 

 and then much curved to the tip, which is acute, the lateral 

 , margins somewhat straight; the nostrils oval, and placed rather 

 obliquely in the cere. Wings very long, with the third and 

 fourth quills the longest. Tail very long, broad, rounded, 

 or more or less forked at the end, Tarsi very short, partly 

 plumed from the base, and the rest covered with scales. Toes 

 rather short, with the outer united at its base to the middle 

 one, the claws long and curved. 



Genus. Elan us. Sav. 



Bill short, very broad at the base, and compressed towards 

 the tip, which is hooked and acute; the nostrils large and 

 suboval. Wings very long, pointed, and reaching beyond the 

 tail, with the second quill the longest. Tail long, and slightly 

 emarginated. Tarsi short, nearly the length of the middle 

 toe, with the basal part plumed, and the other covered with 

 reticulated scales. Toes moderate, broad, and free at the base 3 

 with the outer much shorter than the inner toe; the claws 

 strong and curved. 



SUB FAM: ACCIPITRINJE, or SPARROW HAWKS. 



Genus. Astuk. Lacep. 

 Bill short, broad at the base, and with the sides gradually 



