228 MR. R. E. SYMOXS 



Serpentarius serpentarius — Secretary Bird. Common 

 on the Natal side of the Drakensberg, but I have not met 

 with it in Basutoland. From one to two eggs are laid 

 during September and October. 



Circus ranivonisSouth African Harrier. Occasion- 

 ally seen in the Game Reserve, but not in Basutoland. 



Astur tachiro — African Goshatck. Fairly common in 

 the thick bush on the foothills of the Drakensberg. T 

 have taken the eggs in October. This goshawk always 

 lines its nest with green leaves. 



Accipiter rufiventris — Eed-hreasted Sparrow-liawk. 

 Common in all the bushclumps on the Natal side, but, 

 like Astur tachiro^ is not found in Basutoland. These 

 sparrow-hawks breed in the Game Reserve, and I have 

 found a great many nests, containing from two to three 

 eggs, in the month of October. The nest can be dis- 

 tinguished from that of the preceding species, as it is 

 generally lined with moss, never with green leaves. 



Circus tnaurus — Black Harrier. An occasional visitor. 

 I once shot a specimen, which I sent to the Natal 

 Museum. 



Aquila verrauxi — Black Eagle. Common on both sides 

 of the mountain ; these birds are exceedingly destruc- 

 tive, and destroy a great deal of game every year, be- 

 sides baboons, which they appear to be very fond of. I 

 have found several nests on most inaccessible krantzes. 

 In June one of these, wliich I could see from the top of 

 the cliff, contained two eggs. A female shot by me in 

 the Game Reserve measured over seven feet across the 

 wings from tip to tip; tliis specimen is now in the Natal 

 Museum. The largest male shot by me measured six feet 

 six indies across. 



Biiteo jakal — Jackal Buzzard. Exceedingly common 

 in Natal and Basutoland. Although these birds do con- 

 siderable harm in destroying partridges, they also do a 

 lot of good in killing snakes and other vermin. I once 

 saw a buzzard flying along, Avith a snake (which was 

 about r'our feet long) in its mouth. Tlie eggs, two in num- 



