434 New PuhUcatwns. 



the Dutch first formed their settlement on the shores of Table 

 Bay, this animal was a regular inhabitant of the thickets which 

 clothed the lower slopes of Table Mountain. The abandonment 

 of those spots by this animal, as a measure of safety, probably 

 constituted the commencement of a forced migration, which has 

 continued to extend ever since, and which has led not only to the 

 disappearance of the species from the districts within the present 

 colonial limits, but also in a great measure to its removal from 

 countries bey ond those limits, as far as hunters, efficiently armed, 

 are accustomed to resort. If a system, such as has hitherto pre- 

 vailed, continues to exist, and the larger animals persevere in 

 flying to avoid the effects of fire-arms, the time may arrive when 

 the various species which formerly may have been scattered, 

 each in a particular locality of a large continent, will be huddled 

 together ; and indeed an advance towards that period is in pro- 

 gress, as may be inferred from the concentration which is at 

 present taking place in the interior of Southern Africa. Until 

 lately, the present was the only species of the genus which was 

 known to be receding from its native country, but of late ano- 

 ther has been led to a like course ; and the Rhinoceros Simus, 

 which, but a few years ago, was common in the neighbourhood 

 of Latakoo, has, since the more general introduction of fire-arms 

 into that country, almost entirely ceased to approach within a 

 hundred miles of it. From a consideration of the various facts 

 which we have collected in relation to the species now under 

 consideration, and which we shall detail more at length else- 

 where, we feel disposed to regard it to a certain extent as a pri- 

 soner in the country it now inhabits, and are inclined to believe 

 the southern extremity of the continent, and the country along 

 the western coast towards Benguela to have once formed a fa- 

 vourite residence." 



PI. 3. Falco semitorquatus, Smith. — Of the Falcon tribe, eight 

 species appear to be natives of Southern Africa, of these one is 

 our Falco peregrinuSj^or Peregrine falcon, another the Hobby, 

 Falco subbuteo; and two are new species,, viz. the present and 

 the Falco rupicoloides of Smith. 



PI. 4. Chizaerhis concolor. Smith. — This beautiful bird is a 

 new species of the genus Chizaerhis of Wagler. 



PL 5. Pterocles gutturalis ; and, PI. 6. Otis ruficrista, Smith. 

 Both new species. PI. 7. Sternotherus sinuatus, Smith, This 



