OrmtholGgij of the Matopo District. ] 99 



somewhat, but, after a few beats of its wiugs, the legs are 

 stretched out under the tail — this l)cars out Dr. Stark's 

 observations. 



43. Circus pygargus. ]\Iontagu's Harrier. 

 Circus cineraceus (Mont.) ; Sel. iii. p. 3G8. 



Specimens were obtained on December 4, 1910, on the 

 Rliodes Estate, and on INlarcli 27, 1912, on Yriegcvicht farm, 

 1 believe this Harrier in not uncommon. 



44. X Circus macrourus. Pallid Harrier. 



A commou summer visitor, departing early in March. 

 The majority are in the various stages of spotted phases of 

 plumage, common to the female and young, but quite a iew 

 of the grey and white adult males occur. These Harriers 

 frequently follow the plough and devour greedily any large 

 giubs turned up, but they will not touch moles ; they are 

 iiulefatigable hunters, and I have frequently seen them con- 

 tinue quartering the ground long after sunset. The soft parts 

 of an adult male are : — Irides yellow ; bill dark brownish 

 horn ; cere and feet yellow. Stomachs examined, of both 

 this and the last species, have contained remains of mice 

 large grasshoppers, and beetles. 



45. X Circus ranivorus. South African Harrier. 



Like its congeners, this species is to be found only on the 

 open country surrounding the hills, and is, as a rule, usually 

 not found far from water. It is a rarer bird than either of 

 the last named, and personally I have only seen it on two 

 occasions— April 1, 1911, and January IG, 1912 — at the 

 Dam. The soft parts of a female found dead on a latter 

 occasion were: — Irides tawny-yellow; bill blackish; cere 

 dirty yellow; and feet yellow with black claws. 



46. + Melierax mechowi. Meehow's Goshawk. 



A rare species which I have only obtained close to Fig- 

 tree Camp in October 1910. This Goshawk probably prefers 

 the thicker timbered tracks within the hills to the open 

 country. 



