Birds of Celebes: Falconidae. 
57 
(Meyer), in Geylon (Legge), “extremely common in Bnrmah” (Oates), “exces- 
sively common in Tenasserim” (Davison), “everywhere abundant on the strand 
in Ceram” (E.ibbe); “the most plentiful resident bird of prey in Borneo” 
(Everett), “the commonest bird of prey near Batavia” (Vorderman), “the com- 
monest and most impudent bird of prey” in Sumatra (Hagen). Owing to its 
great numerical abundance, to the expulsion of the young by the parents, the 
search for partners and for suitable breeding territories well supplied with food, 
a continuous crowding out of the surplus population of this species doubtless 
takes place, and the movement is as nothing to a bird possessing such fine 
power of flight. It is, however, naturally a stationary bird, having no call for 
migration by reason of its omnivorous habits; consequently, it does not proceed 
farther, when forced to make a move, than to the nearest suitable locality; but 
this serves to keep up a continuous intermixture of individuals from neighbour- 
ing quarters, so as to prevent its becoming marked off into distinct smaller species. 
Why, in spreading from the continent of Asia to the islands of the East, H. indus 
has gradually lost the black shaft-streaks on the white plumage of the head, 
neck, breast and abdomen, so acquiring a pure white on these parts (or — vice- 
versa — has acquired black shaft streaks in extending its range from New 
Guinea to India [see p. 64 antea^^ are questions worthy of consideration, but 
the explanation of which must be left to future time, if the development of 
this species as a whole has not by then undergone changes, be it that it has 
split into sharply separated forms or that it has settled down into one. 
GENUS MILVUS Cut. 
The Kites are medium-sized birds of prey and well characterized by their 
long, forked tail. Wing very long; tarsus and toes short, upper third of the 
tarsus feathered, lower part in front transverse-scutate, claws not strongly 
hooked; bill rather weak, culmen narrow, compressed, tomia slightly festooned. 
Preys on small vertebrates of any description; also, carrion. Three to six 
species found in the Old World, including Australia; migratory and stationary; 
laying 2 — 3 eggs. 
20. MILVUS MIGRANS (Bodd.). 
Black Kite. 
The following references bear upon what may be called the Indian Kite- 
question: 
Homeyer, J. f. 0. 1868, 252; Anderson, P. Z. S. 1872, 79; Hume, Str. 
F. 1873, 160; Brooks, Ibis 1874, 461; Sharpe, Cat. B. I, 1874, 323 — 326; 
Anderson, P. Z. S. 1875, 25; Brooks, Str. F. 1875, 229; Hume, 1. c. note; 
Hume & Davison, Str. F. 1878, VI, 23; Oates, Str. F. 1878, VH, 44; Gurney, 
Ibis 1879, 76—82; Brooks, t. c. 282—284; Scully, Str. F. 1879, VHI, 227—229; 
Meyer & Wigles worth, Birds of Celebes (Oct. 9th, 1S97). c 
