inhabiting the South of Africa. 115 
Obs.—The colors described as marking the old birds, are 
those most commonly met with, but it may be observed that 
specimens obtained soon after the moulting season have a ches- 
nut instead of a tawny tinge, and all the brown variegation 
deeper and clearer. Though I have no direct reason for be- 
lieving that the plumage described as that of an old male, is 
only that of one of a middle age, yet from having witnessed 
so much variety in the markings of birds in that stage, I think 
it is not improbable that farther observations will prove the 
mature color to be a little different. 
Genus. MORPHINUS. Cuvier. 
Rostrum supra convexum ; | Beak convex above; nostrils 
nares elliptici. Tarsi elevati, || elliptic. Tarsielevated, rather 
subgraciles ; acrotarsia scutel- | slender; acrotarsiascutellated. 
lata. Digiti subbreves; un- | Toes rathershort; clawsacute. 
gues acuti. | 
Spizaétus, Vierllot. 
MorpPHINUS ALBESCENS. 
Falco albescens, Shaw, vol. 7, p. 93.—Le Blanchard, Le 
Vaillant Ois Afriq. pl. 3. 
M. albescens ; cristatus ; supra fusco-flavescente varius ; cauda 
nigra albo fasciata. 
Male.—Bill lead colored; eyes fine yellow; head with a 
small crest; the whole plumage white, clouded with blackish 
brown upon the mantle, and soft to the touch; tail rayed 
transversely black and white ; primary wing feathers with the 
outer vanes brownish, and the inner ones rayed; claws a 
leaden color.’ Length about two feet six or eight inches. 
Female.—* A third larger than the male.’ 
Young.—As well as Le Vaillant could judge from two 
young specimens which he found in a nest, the color of the 
plumage is nearly that of the the old bird, excepting that the 
brown is more abundant, and all the wing coverts are bor- 
dered with reddish. When this species leaves the egg it is 
covered with a tawny white down.” 
Le Vaillant found this species in Autinequa land, and the 
only two specimens which I have ever seen, occurred one in 
the forest between the Sunday and Bushman Rivers, and the 
other near Hermanus kraal, on the banks of the Great Fish 
River ; but neither of them was I able to procure. 
Morpuinvs occrprrauis. Kuifkop Valk of the Colonists. 
Falco Occipitalis, Daudin, Ois. 2, p. 40.—Shaw, 7, p. 59.— 
Nisser Tokoor, Bruce, Le Huppard, Le Vaillant, Ois. Afr. pl. 2. 
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