2G8 Messrs. S. lloch and E. Newton on Birds 



of porch. I sent one of my bearers up the tree, but I could 

 not induce him to put his hand into the entrances of the nest ; 

 he commenced pulhng away from the top, till he fairly un- 

 roofed the edifice, which consisted of coarse grass, rushes, and 

 sticks, altogether enough to fill a moderate-sized cart, and drew 

 out four unfortunate half-grown Kestrels and a rotten egg, 

 which he stupidly broke. The young birds were afterwards eaten 

 by himself and his companions with much gusto." — E. N. 



4. ?MiLVUS PARASITICUS (Daudin) ; Ilartl. p. 19. 



A Kite, we presume of this species, was common along our 

 route. At Antananarivo it was one of the few birds noticed. 

 At nearly every village two or three might be seen circling high 

 in the air, and occasionally descending for any garbage or stray 

 fowls they could get hold of. At Tamatave they were always 

 to be seen over the IJazaar, where the bullocks and pigs are 

 slaughtered. The bird was so common that, believing we could 

 always obtain a skin, we put it off till the last, and ultimately 

 came away, we regret to say, without one. Their bills were 

 yellowish white. 



5. Nisus MADAGASCARiENsis, J. Vcrrcaux ; Hartl. p. 20. 



A Sparrow-hawk was seen at Ambohitroni, on the 25th of 

 October ; it appeared to be of the same species as the one after- 

 wards shot by Ur. Roch, on the 31st, near Manambonitra. 

 6 . Iris bright yellow, back horn-colour, legs yellow. 



0. Circus ■ ? sp. indet, 



" When crossing over the great elevated i)lain between the 

 Mongourou and Mooramanga, on my return journey on the 25th 

 of October, I saw a male Harrier beating over the short grass; 

 it never, however, approached within gun-shot. There were 

 several marshes forming suitable breeding-places for birds of 

 this genus on the plain." — E. N. 



7. PoLYBOROiUES MADAGASCARiENSis (Daudin) ; P.radiutus, 

 Hartl. p. 21. 



We obtained a specimen* at Ranomafana, as it was circling 



* The Madagascar form of Pohjhoroides is considered by Mr. J. II. 

 Gurney sufficiently different from continental exami)le8 to deserve a distinct 

 appellation. — Ed. 



