148 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vual Ornithology. 



one before or since, so that it must be decidedly scarce in the 

 neighbourhood of Potchefstrooni. 



[This is the only specimen of C. ceruginosus which I have 

 seen from any locality south of the equator; the specimen sent 

 appears to be a bird of the year. — J, H. G.] 



68. (L. 51.) Circus ranivorus (Daud.). Le Vaillant's 

 Harrier. 



The nestling sent was brought to me in January and was 

 stated to have been taken in the swamp near Potchefstroom. 

 [See also 'The Ibis' for 1868, p. 464, J. H. G.] 



69. (L. 49.) Circus swainsoni. Smith. Swainson's Harrier, 

 Female. — Total length 19| inches, bill 1^, tarsus 3^, wing 



13|, tail 9i. 



Iris dark hazel, tarsi and feet yellow, cere greenish yellow, 

 bill horny-black, gape dull green. 



This specimen was shot by my brother in February. These 

 Harriers are only here during the summer months, and then 

 not plentifully ; they skim quietly about amongst the trees and 

 houses of Potchefstroom, and catch up any unwary chicken or 

 bird that falls in their way. In the same quiet, noiseless way 

 they frequent the reedy streams of the country. 



70. (L. 64.) Phasmoptynx capensis (Smith). African 

 Short-eared Owl. 



This Owl occurs in the swamps near Potchefstroom, where I 

 have occasionally come across its nest, whilst beating for Snipes 

 amongst the long grass and rushes. The nest is merely a small 

 cavity in the ground, snugly situated under a clump of grass or 

 rushes, and with a few blades of dry rushes at the bottom. 



The bird flies from its nest in a great hurry at the near ap- 

 proach of danger. The eggs are two or three in number, pure 

 white and slightly glossy, size about If-li inches. 



I found a male bird sitting upon a nest, which contained three 

 eggs a good deal incubated ; this was in the month of April. 



71. (L. 57.) Huhua verreauxi (Bon.). Verreaux's Owl. 

 Female. — Length 26 inches ; bill pale-ash colour. 



I found this fine Owl sparsely scattered along the banks of 



