288 Mr. Ayres on Birds of 



4. (L. 38.) Elanus c^ruleus (Desf.). Black-shouldered 

 Kite. 



This species appears to be equally distributed throughout 

 Natal and Trans-Vaal. 



5. (L. 28.) Chicquera ruficollis (Swains.). African Red- 

 necked Falcon. 



The first specimen which I obtained of this handsome bird 

 was shot by Dr. Portman whilst attempting to carry away a 

 tame Parrot which the Doctor had^ and at that moment was not 

 ten feet outside the veranda of the house. 



A pair of these Falcons may occasionally be seen flying about 

 the willow trees in Dorp ; but they are by no means plentiful. 

 The sexes are very similar in plumage, but the male is rather 

 the smaller. The irides are dark brown, the naked skin round 

 the eye yellow, the bill blue horn-colour, but yellow at the base, 

 the cere, tarsi, and feet yellow. 



6. (L. 33.) TiNNUNcuLUS RUPicoLOiDEs(A. Smith). Greater 

 South- African Kestrel. 



These Kestrels are tolerably common in the open country 

 surrounding Potchefstroom, and in habits and appearance they 

 much resemble our Natal T. rupicolus, they are generally in 

 pairs, but sometimes three or four together ; . they feed upon 

 rats, mice, lizards, and various insects, especially locusts. 



Irides tawny-yellow, bill bluish horn-colour, but black at the 

 tip, cere yellow, tarsi and feet dull yellow. 



7. (L. 41.) AcciPiTER POLYZONOIDES, A. Smith. Many- 

 banded Sparrow Hawl<. 



Adult male : — Iris orange, bill black, but bluish at the base, 

 cere and gape yellow, tarsi and feet yellow. 



Immature female : — Iris yellow. 



The colours of the eyes, tarsi, feet, bill, and cere appear to 

 vary much in different individuals. Scarcely two are precisely 

 similar. 



8. (L. 44.) Melierax gabar (Daud.). Gabar Hawk. 

 Inhabits the bush. 



Adult female : — Itis dark reddish-yellow ; bill black, base and 



