Hi Doc

Thanks for the etymology of pariah!

Regarding the bird, though, I think matters ornithological may have changed a bit since 1913. lol!

The late Dr Salim Ali's Handbook of Indian Birds (my copy, now lost, was bought in the mid-'70s, a couple of years before I had the honour of going birding one afternoon with the great man himself), lists the ubiquitous dark brown Indian kite as the Pariah Kite, scientific name Milvus migrans, not 'Govinda' as your Webster's has it. 'Govinda' would, of course, be interesting, since it is one of the favourite names used for the god Krishna by Hindus (most Indian gods of any stature having a number of names).

Other handbooks on Indian birds, these days, seem to think 'pariah' perhaps too strong or politically incorrect a phrase and I have seen Milvus migrans more usually referred to as the Black Kite.

What this means, alas, is that neither Pariah kite, nor Milvus govinda may be current any more.

If anybody has any more up-to-date info, I'd be glad to learn more.

cheer

the sunshine warrior