from the Colony of Natal. 155 



One cold, bleak, windy day in June my brother and I were 

 shooting, when a Partridge rose to me, which I wounded, and 

 which flew perhaps two hundred yards and then fell. 



This pair of Falcons, which we had noticed soaring about for 

 some time, immediately darted on the wounded bird ; my brother 

 easily stalked them, and with a double shot killed the pair. 

 Although scarcely half a minute had elapsed since the Partridge 

 fell, one of the Falcons had already eaten its head off. 



These Falcons are very rare in our neighbourhood. Their flight 

 is excessively rapid when occasion requires ; but at other times 

 they appear generally to soar easily and quietly about, apparently 

 well scanning the ground over which they pass. 



AsTUR MELANOLEUcus (Smith). Black and White Goshawk. 



It appears to me that these Hawks are more numerous here in 

 the summer months, from November to February or March, than 

 they are in winter. 



AcciPiTER TACHiRO (Daud.). Tachiro Hawk. 



Female assuming the adult dress ; iris light yellow. 



One of these birds a short time since suddenly emerged from 

 the bush and made a swoop amongst a lot of our chickens ; 

 having failed in striking one, the chickens instantly ran to the 

 cover of some rough weeds and grass, when the Hawk proceeded 

 to hunt them on foot, and I put it up within five yards of me 

 while so doing, and ultimately shot it. 



Nectarinia afra (Linn.). Greater Double-collared Sun-bird. 

 Female. Iris dark brown ; bill black; tarsi and feet dull brown. 

 This species is not found immediately on the coast, its range 

 commencing about ten miles inland. 



Parus NIGER (VieilL). Black and White Tit. 



I discovered a nest of these birds containing one egg and four 

 callow young. The old bird had evidently taken possession of a 

 deserted Woodpecker's nest. The hole was in a perpendicular 

 and decayed bough of a large tree, about twenty feet from the 

 ground ; itwas about a foot in depth, and there was a very little fine 

 dry grass at the bottom, on which the egg and young birds were 

 placed. I was obliged to cut and break the front of the bough 

 to get at the contents of the nest ; and the old birds showed their 



