218 Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 



crested appearance. There can be no doubt that C. cinereus 

 is quite distinct from C. pectorulis, and I should not think 

 that any one seeing both species in the flesh covild suppose 

 them to be the same, though both are snake-eating Eagles. 



[I have taken the following additional measurements from 

 these two specimens, which may be compared with those 

 recorded in 'The Ibis' for 1878, p. 163, and for 1880, 

 p. 258:— 



Wing. 

 in. 

 No. 1 22-40 



The upper surface in both birds is entirely of a dark 

 brown, except that in No. 1 the feathers of the upper tail- 

 coverts are crossed by an imperfect white bar near the base 

 and are also tipped with white ; the tail in both specimens 

 exhibits three cross bars of brownish grey and a narrow 

 white tip, the interspaces being blackish brown. 



With the exception of two white cross bars and a white 

 tip on the feathers of the under tail-coverts, the entire under 

 surface in both birds is dark brown, with no white bases to 

 the feathers, except to a very slight extent on the abdomen 

 in No. 1.— J. H. G.] 



Circus macrurus (Gmel.). Swainson's Harrier. 



These Harriers have a fine time of it when the farmers 

 shoot the numerous Finches [Evplectes taha, Chera progne, 

 &c.) which destroy so much of their corn ; the Harriers are 

 then particularly busy coursing over the fields and stubbles 

 for wounded birds, from which they get many a good meal. 

 Although their flight when hunting is usually rather leisurely 

 and somewhat wavering, it is astonishing with what raj^idity 

 they apparently turn over and seize their victim, be it chicken 

 or other bird ; the swarms of Finches often dart into the 

 thickest parts of the nearest leafy trees on the approach of 

 their enemy and wait till the danger is past. 



[In ' The Ibis ' for 1871, p. 148, Mr. Ayres remarked that 

 this species is only found in Transvaal during the southern 

 summer, in illustration of which I may mention that of ten 



