26 
POPULAR HISTOEY OF BIRDS. 
dras JournaP (vol. vi. p. 77) he informs us that the Black- 
wing^^ (Elanus melanoptems) , called Chanwa in Hindostan, 
is not migratory there. The birds of the genus breed on 
trees^ and rear from three to four young. The chanwa 
generally searches for its food in the morning and evening, 
feeding on small birds, insects, and mice. This bird does 
not usually seize its prey on the wing, but skims like a har- 
rier-hawk, occasionally poising itself on the wing, as if to get 
a distinct view \ and when it has seen its quarry, the bird 
" stoops perpendicularly with the speed of lightning \^ speed 
is very necessary in the case of mice, which " nimble game 
constitute its chief food. Mr. Hodgson has frequently seen 
the chanwa whip ojff insects from stalks of standing grain, 
so that the Indian species resembles the North American 
species just referred to, in its ^swifts-like manner of life. 
The long wings, long tail, comparatively feeble feet, and 
other characters, present strong analogical resemblances. 
There are some of the Falconidm which are said to live 
chiefly on vegetable matter. The Ibycter in Guiana, accord- 
ing to Eichard Schomburgk, feeds exclusively on the yellow 
berries of a Malpighia ; in Brazil however the species feeds 
also, according to Spix, on grasshoppers. 
The Honey-buzzards [Pemis) are, as the name implies. 
