28 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



thigh-bone, the thighs themselves being of the same colour, 

 mottled with white. Her length is 21|" ; wing, 13" 9'"; 

 tail, 12". 



Among the many good things sent to the Museum by Mr. Jackson, 

 of Nel's Poort, appeared a young individual (9) of this rare bird. 

 While staying with him during the month of December 1863, I saw, 

 just out of gunshot, a bird which I feel sure was the adult specimen. 

 Mr. J. informed me that he had frequently seen a similar bird, but 

 could never get within range of it. 



Mr. Atmore writes that his birds had proved very destructive to 

 poultry in their neighbourhood. Their nest, in a large tree, contained 

 three young birds, and an egg just hatching. 



Genus ACCIPITER, Brisson. 

 Bill very short, with the culmen much arched to the tip, 

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

 margins festooned ; the nostrils placed anteriorly in the cere, 

 large and sub-oval, partly concealed by the projecting hairs 

 of the lores. Wings moderate; with the fourth and fifth 

 quills nearly equal and longest. Tail long, ample, and 

 nearly square at the end. Tarsi longer than the middle -toe, 

 covered in front with nearly obsolete scales. Toes more or 

 less lengthened, and padded beneath the joints ; the lateral 

 ones unequal ; and the inner and hind toes equal in length, 

 and both with a strong curved claw. 



40. Accipiter TachirO. (Daud.) Acdpiter Poly- 

 zonus, Lesson., Tr. d'Orn., p. 58 ; Astur Zonariua, 

 Tem., PL, Col. 377, 420; Hartl, O.W., p. 15 ; Ac. 

 Tachiro, Auct. (the young) ; Le Tachiro, Le V., PI. 24. 



Above uniform ashy-brown ; throat whitish, finely rayed 

 transversely with brown ; anterior part of neck, breast, and 

 belly dull white, regularly rayed with transverse brown, or 

 pale rufous bars ; vent and under tail-coverts white, with 

 some fine transverse brown lines ; wing-feathers light-brown, 

 banded with dark-brown, inner vanes marked with white 

 towards the quills. Tail long ; beneath ash-white, with trans- 

 verse brown bands ; above brown, with darker bands ; tips 

 white. Length, 15" ; wing, 8" 3'" ; tail, Tj". 



Young Bird. — Above brown, each feather margined with 

 rufous, and usually with white at the base ; beneath pale 

 Isabella colour, with numerous large oval dark-brown 

 blotches ; thigh transversely barred. Legs yellow. 



I have received specimens of the young bird from several of my 

 correspondents, who tell me it is not uncommon in the forest districts ; 



