154 FALCONIFORMES 



aries ; the wide crest, sliort rectrices, red cere, lores and feet, render- 

 ing it most remarkable. H. leuconotus is hardly more than a creamy- 

 backed variety. It sails aloft in powerful style, and dashes like 

 lightning upon the snakes, mannnals, and lizards, whicli form its 

 prey ; the nest of sticks is placed in trees or rocks, and contains, 

 it is said, from two to four white eggs. The crested Eutriorchis 

 of Madagascar, and Dryotriorchis of the Gold Coast, short of wing 

 but long of tail, should probably be placed here. A fine broad 

 crest also adorns Spilornis, of which genus some seven members 

 occur in the Indian Kegion, and the Celebes group. aS". v.ndrdatus 

 {clieela), extending from India to China, has the head black and 

 white, the remaining plumage brown, with whitish markings 

 above, round white spots lielow, and a broad light band across 

 the white-tipped tail. !S. sulaensis of the Sula Islands differs in 

 being barred beneath ; S. IwlospUas of the Philippines has the 

 whole body spotted. These arboreal forms live upon snakes, frogs, 

 insects, and birds, the last of which they hunt in pairs, converg- 

 ing gradually on the victim from each side : the note is mournful ; 

 the small nest of twigs, lined with grass or leaves, is placed in 

 trees ; the two eggs are rufous or white with red markings. 



The slender Polyhoroides typiciis, of mo.st of the Ethiopian 

 Eegion, combines the appearance of a Harrier with that of a 

 typical Hawk ; it is grey with white tips to the lilack remiges and 

 rectrices, and shews black and white Ijars on the lower breast and 

 abdomen. A whitish band crosses the tail, while the naked cheeks 

 and cere are yellow. P. radiatus of Madagascar is more silvery. 

 Eesembling the following group in habits, these birds prefer grass- 

 lands, especially when newly burnt, take comparatively short 

 flights, and rest more frequently on trees or stumps. They are 

 said to be able to bend the til)io-tarsal joint either way. 



CircMS, ranging over nearly the whole world, comprises some 

 seventeen species, in most of which the sexes differ in coloration 

 — an unusual fact in liaptorial forms. They are graceful and soft- 

 plumaged, with long legs, wings, and tail, the partial facial ruff 

 creating a likeness — superficial and not warranted by structure 

 — to the owls. Non-arboreal and by nature shy, they may be seen 

 hovering or circling aloft, or systematically beating over the flats 

 with buoyant untiring flight, the pinions flapping slowly and 

 regularly, and exposing a broad surface to tlie air. They can, 

 liowever, move with rapidity, and approach their breeding-quarters 



