220 Messrs. R. B. & J. D. S. Woodward on 



actually grasped the fowl by the head, and would probably 

 soon have overcome her had it not been disturbed. We 

 kept one of these little birds in a cage, but it never lost its 

 savage nature, and would not allow any other bird to be 

 confined with it. This group of Hawks grasp their prey by 

 an oblique swoop, and do not pounce upon it, like other 

 species. It is astonishing with what speed they can fly 

 through the trees in spite of the branches, which one would 

 think would form a serious obstacle to such rapid motion. 



The Black Hawk {Lophoaetus occipitalis), which is really 

 an Eagle, is handsomely crested, and its legs, covered to the 

 toes with white feathers, are a curious contrast to its black 

 body. It is often seen perched on the branch of a dead tree 

 watching the ground for mice, which constitute its principal 

 food, though it does not despise the larger insects, such as 

 locusts. In its nature it is most inoffensive, and rarely kills 

 even small birds. We have kept an example in confinement, 

 when it makes a nice pet ; but it is naturally very tame, 

 and will permit of such near approach that the Kafirs have 

 given it the name of " Isipumongati,^' or " The Fool.^^ Its 

 voice is a loud piercing shriek. 



Elanus cceruleus, as well as the Kestrel, keeps to the out- 

 skirts of these woods. Although this Hawk is said to feed 

 chiefly on insects, it killed a canary which we had brought 

 from Capetown : the cage was fixed to a tree, when the 

 savage little creature suddenly darted down and transfixed 

 the poor bird between the bars. We obtained a young one 

 of this species and kept it tame for some time. It is a very 

 noisy bird, with a shrill cry. 



Tinnunculus rupicola, called the " Rock-Falcon," is very 

 partial to high kranzes, in the lioles of which it builds. 

 It is constantly seen hovering over the veldt in search of mice. 

 We once took two young birds from a hole in the rocks, and 

 they became so tame that they used to fly about the place and 

 come down regularly to be fed. We have taken the eggs 

 of a large Kite {Milvus (Bgyptius) out of a nest built in a 

 high tree : they are white spotted with red, and 2 inches 

 long. 



