from the colony of Natal. 135 



144. Pelecanus mitratus, Licht. Mitred Pelican. 



[This species and the two preceding were sent to Mr. Stevens 

 by Mr. Gueinzius. — J. H. G.] 



145. Pelecanus rufescens (Gmel.). Pink-backed Pelican. 

 Male. Bill pale ; tip of the bill bright orange ; pouch, legs 



and feet greenish yellow. These birds frequent the bay and the 

 mouths of the rivers on the coast ; their food, I believe, consists 

 entirely of fish. They appear to feed in the evening and early in 

 the morning, basking in the sun during the day. They are gre- 

 garious, and may be seen in flights of from three to thirty, which 

 occasionally come inland. In such cases, although I have seen 

 them wheeling round and round close to the ground, I have not 

 seem them alight, but have watched them until out of sight. 

 In their flight they generally form the letter V, similarly to the 

 Geese, &c. They are to be found here all the year round more 

 or less, frequenting the most retired parts of the bay, and are 

 exceedingly shy and wary. The bird now sent, when shot, was 

 only pinioned, and falling into the water, gave me a long chase. 

 It swam with such swiftness, that by the time I got into my 

 boat it had three hundred yards' start. There being a strong 

 head wind blowing at the time, I had the greatest difficulty in 

 overtaking it, and rowed more than a mile before I was near 

 enough to give the bird a second shot, which put an end to its 

 existence. These Pelicans soar to an immense height, wheeling 

 round and round, especially when coming from a distance. 

 They appear to examine the waters well before they alight, and 

 settle far out of gunshot of any cover there may be. 



I may, in conclusion, here insert the following additional 

 note, which I have received from Mr, Ayres, on 



AsTUR melanoleucus (Smith). Black and White Goshawk. 



" A few days since, I shot a very fine immature specimen of 

 Astur melanoleucus, which had carried away successively three of 

 my full-grown hens, of the ordinary size, seven ducklings about 

 one-third grown, four or five good-sized chickens, and one gos- 

 ling as large as a full-grown fowl. Yet so cunning was this 

 bird, that it committed all this havoc before I could get a single 



