60 
Birds of Celebes: Falconidae. 
Cingalese Milvus and the typical Indian M. govinda, — facts pointing to the 
stationary habits of these birds. M. govinda, however, as well as the typical 
wiqrans, visits Afghanistan in migration (St. John, Ibis 1889, 153). 
Thus, we conclude, that there are neither two nor three species of Kite 
in India, but two (or three) subspecies, one of which proceeds to further racial 
variation in other localities — Ceylon, Celebes, Australia. 
For the present it seems best to treat of 3£ migrans as consisting of four 
subspecies — Milvus aeggptius being accounted distinct — ■ viz. : 
1. The typical Milvus migrans (Bodd.). 
Diagnosis. Size medium (g wing c. 430 mm); the edges of the feathers of crown and nape 
whitish instead of light brown or rufous; abdomen more distinctly ferruginous; usually 
httle or no motthng or banding on the basal portion of the quills in adults. (Blan- 
ford, Faun. Br. Ind., B. HI 1895, 378.) 
Distribution. Europe, N. W. Africa, Asia east as far as Tomsk on the Obi, Turkestan, 
Afghanistan. 
2. Milvus migrans melanotis (Temm. & Sc hi.). 
Diagnosis. Size large (Q wing 485 — 546 mm); feathers of head edged ^tli tawny or rufous; 
usually a conspicuous white patch on wing below at base of quills; abdomen and 
under tail- coverts usually much paler than in the next form. 
Distribution. East Siberia, Japan, Intha, Burmah; Borneo (Everett). 
3. Milvus migrans govinda (Sykes). 
Diagnosis. Size medium [Q wing 430—495 mm, Blanford); head as in M. m. melanotis', 
plumage browner than in M. m. affmis. 
Distribution. Afghanistan, India, Ceylon, gradually blending with the next form from Burmah 
to New Gtdnea. 
4. Milvus migrans affinis (Gould). 
Diagnosis. Size small (wing about 400 mm, Australia), plumage more rufous than in if. m. 
govinda. 
Distribution. Australia, passing into the proceeding form in the locahties between Australia 
and India. 
These intermediate birds will be contained under the formula if. migrans govinda 
— affinis, should a special term for them be thought necessary. For the present we 
prefer to take the birds ranging from Austraha to Burmah as one subspecies: 
Milvus migrans affinis (Gld.). 
a. Milvus affinis (1) Gld., F. Z. S. 1837, 140; (II) id., B. Austr. 1848, I, pi. 21; (3) Schl., 
Mus. P.-B. hlilvi 1862, 3; (IV) Diggles, Om. Austr. 1866, pt. I; (V) Schl., VaUiv. 
1866, 30, 67, pi. 20, f. 1; (G) ’Wall., Bus 1868, 16; (7) Sharpe, Cat. B. 1874, I, 
323; (8) Hume & Davison, Str. F. 1878, VI, 23j (8 bis) Gurney, Bus 1879, 
76—82; (8 ter) Hume, Str. F. 1879, VHI, 45; (9) Legge, B. Ceylon 1880, 82; 
(10) Salvad., Orn. Pap. 1880, I, 21; Oates, Str. F. 1882, X, 181(?); (11) id., B. 
