1837.] On the Structure and Habits of the Elanus Melanopterus, 7$ 



mounted, in embarking on such publications, is the expense necessarily 

 incurred before any return can be expected ; and then the uncertainty 

 of finding a demand for such costly works, sufficient to indemnify the 

 publisher for his risk and first heavy outlay. Whether it will be pos- 

 sible to overcome these impediments in Madras I have yet to learn, 

 but enquiry is now on foot, and if I find that it can be ' got up' at so 

 cheap a rate as to secure for itself, such a sale as will nearly cover the 

 cost, I shall be happy to avail myself of the issue of your next number 

 to make known the plan, and exhibit a specimen of the work, by the 

 publication of a prospectus, and in the mean time, if any among your 

 readers are desirous of encouraging the undertaking, they, by making 

 their wishes known, may greatly contribute towards having them grati- 

 fied, as the names of even a few unexpected subscribers may go far in 

 determining the course I shall pursue. Apologising for the unexpect- 

 ed length to which this letter has extended, 



I remain, dear sir, 



Yours ever faithfully, 

 To Robert Wight. 



Robert Cole, Esquire, fyc. fyc. tye. 



VIII. — On the Structure and Habits of the Elanus Melanopterus.*-** 

 By B. H. Hodgson, Esq. British Resident in NipaL 



To the Editor of the Madras Journal. 



SiR,--The following details relative to the structure and habits of 

 Elanus Melanopterus will prove interesting to all persons engaged in 

 the noble attempt to classify birds according to their natural affinities, 

 or, in other words, according to their essential conformation and 

 manners. 



Whether this attempt will succeed in the hands of such as, for the 

 most part, have no adequate means of knowing more of habits and 

 economy, than can be gleaned from the random notices of merely 

 casual observers, nor any more of structure than can be elaborated 

 from dry skins, remains to be seen. But I return to my subject. 



MILVIN^E. 

 s Genus. Elanus. 

 Species. Elanus Melanopterus. 

 The Chanwa and Chamva Musaher of Hindosthan. 



