FALCONID^ 



HELOTARSUS 



317 



keeping the wings rigid and rather turned up over the back. 

 Mr. Millais states that when this bird is hunting instead of watching 

 for its prey in front or immediately below it appears to hold its 

 head tightly compressed over its crop, so as to look backwards 



Fig. 105. — Helotarsus ecaudatus flyiug. 



through its legs over ground already passed over. The voice is a 

 loud single scream usually heard at the pairing season when the 

 birds are in the air. There can be no doubt that in addition to 

 their usual diet of small mammals and reptiles these birds readily 

 feed on carrion ; Sovverby saw a young bird feeding on a dead mule, 



