FALCONID^. 27 



is a bold and fearless bird, and generally allows of approach within 

 gunshot. Tt is migratory, appearing about Cape Town in the month 

 of May. I have never heard of its nesting in this countr}'. To a cer- 

 tain extent this species is gregarious. I counted nine roosting in one 

 tree at Eerste River, and several more were flying about close by. I 

 fancy they had been attracted by an exodus of white-ants which had 

 taken place that afternoon. 



The Sub-Family, ACCIPITRIN^, or Sparrow 



Hawks, 

 have the bill short, much arched from the base to the tip, 

 which is acute ; the sides compressed, and the lateral margins 

 greatly festooned ; the wings generally long ; the tail ample ; 

 the tarsi lengthened, and shielded in front ; the toes of 

 various lengths, and generally slender ; the claws long and 

 very acute. 



Genus ASTUR, Auct. 

 Size large ; form robust ; nostrils large, oval, obliquely 

 longitudinal. Bill short, the festoon prominent, lores thickly 

 clothed with minute feathers. Wings short, often not reach- 

 ing beyond the middle of the tail ; the fourth and fifth quill 

 nearly equal and longest. Feet strong, moderate in length 

 and size. Tarsi, feathered beyond the knees, short, broad, 

 transverse, and smooth ; the divisions prominent ; posterior 

 scales the same ; but those towards the knee joint and the 

 lateral scales are small and reticulate. Lateral toes unequal ; 

 the posterior shortest. Hinder and inner claws half the 

 length of the former, and nearly equal. 



39. Astur MelanoleUCOS, Smith ; South African 

 Quarterly. Journal, Vol. I, p.' 229, and Zool. S. A£^ 

 PI. 18 ; Astur Smithii, Kaup. Isis, 1847, p. 196. 



The head, neck, and breast dark brownish-black ; back pale- 

 brown ; shoulders much diversified with white ; body, tail, 

 and thighs white ; tail-feathers equal, usually dashed with 

 red. Length, 20". Dr. A. Smith (loc. cit.) 



A fine pair of these hawks, 5 and 9 , shot by Mr. Atmore 

 and his son near Blanco (George) differ materially from the 

 phases of plumage described by Dr. Smith, the 5 is through- 

 out of a rich brown-black ; the chin and vent are white, with 

 streaks and blotches of the prevailing colour. Length, 18" ; 

 wing, 11" 5"'; tail, 9|". 



The Q resembles the 6 on the upper side, but below she 

 is white, blotched with the prevailing colour on the sides of 

 the chest ; two large patches of the same are over the head of 



