316 Dr. J. Kirk on the Birds of the Zambesi Region. 



but on the animals near the banks or in the grassy, damp islands. 

 Not observed in the mountains, but common in the Shir^ and 

 Zambesi valleys. 



6. AcciPiTER TACHiRO (Daud.). 

 Common all along the Shire valley. 



7. MiCRONISUS MONOGRAMMICUS. 



From the open forests in the Shire valley. 



8. Falco dickinsoni, Sclater, sp. nov. 



One specimen obtained in the Shire valley. Native name, 

 " Kakosi." 



9. Erythropus vespertinus. 



This pretty little Hawk is found near the river. It appears 

 only at sunset and in the dusk, when, coming in great numbers 

 from the shady forest or from among the fronds of the lofty 

 Borassus-palra, it hovers, swallow-like, over the plains and 

 water, catching dragon-flies and locusts, which, with other 

 insects caught on the wing, seem to constitute its chief or only 

 food. In February and March it was seen in numbers on the 

 Shire, where the bush- vegetation and palm-forest come down to 

 the river. 



10. Elanus melanopterus (Daud.). 



Very common both on the Shire and Zambesi. 



11. MiLVUS ^GYPTIUS. 



This Kite arrives in the Zambesi valley from the north in 

 August, and is very abundant along the river. It departs again 

 before the month of June. It catches fish in the shoal waters, 

 but also eats garbage of all sorts from the shore. 



12. Circus ranivorus. 



Nowhere very abundant. Observed in the Elephant Marsh, 

 river Shire. Hovering over the grass plains in March. 



13. Serpentarius reptilivorus. 



Not observed on the Lower Zambesi nor in the vicinity of 

 the Nyassa. One specimen alone was seen on the plain between 

 the Zambesi and Batoka hills, about the confluence of the 



