36 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



This very handsome harrier is not at all uncommon in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cape Town, and is generally seen in pairs, beating the 

 bushes for prey, and quartering the ground with the regularity of a 

 pointer dog. 



After a few heavy flaps with its wings, it sails along with its pinions 

 elevated, swaying to and fro like a clock pendulum ; suddenly it 

 checks itself, lets fall a leg, clutches up a cowering lark or unsus- 

 pecting gerboa, and flies away with it to the nearest termite heap, on 

 which it perches and commences its repast. If accompanied by its 

 mate, a shrill stridulous cry soon brings it to its side, and the dainty 

 morsel is shared between them. 



It breeds among reeds, making a thick heavy nest en any elevated 

 root that may lift it above the water. I am told that the eggs are 

 white, but have not seen them. This Mr. Atmore confirms. 



53. Circus MelanoleUCOS, Vieil; Falco Mehx- 

 noleucos, Gmel. ; Le Tehoug, Le Vail., PL 32. 



The head, neck, mantle, and interscapulars very deep-brown, 

 changing to clear-brown on the scapularies and part of wing- 

 coverts. Best of wings grey- white, mingled with feathers 

 of equal white and brown. Larger wing-feathers bhick, the 

 lesser pearl-grey. On the back of the head a mixture of 

 black, white, and brown. The lower parts of the body, the 

 very long feathers of the legs, and lower tail-feathers pure 

 white. Rest of tail reddish grey- white, a large brown spot 

 on the end of each of its central feathers. 



Le Vaillant describes from a Bengal specimen, but states that he 

 plainly saw the bird in the Long Kloof. I beUeve he has mistaken 

 Astur Melanoleucos for this species. 



54. Circus Acoli. Falco Acoli, Shaw ; L'Acoli, Le 

 Vail., PI. 3 I ; Witte Valk and Leeuiverkvanger, 



Colour on the head, neck, and mantle pale grey-blue ; 

 leathers on legs very long, hanging low on the tarsus. 

 Lower part of wings very much darker ; all the lower parts 

 of the body are whitish, finely rayed with dark-grey ; body 

 long aud slight ; tail, legs, and tarsus long. 



Generally distributed, according to VaiUant, who says it is most 

 abundant in the districts of Zwartland, "Eed Sand," and " Twenty- 

 four Eivers. " 



It flies very swiftly, but always low. In the colony it frequents 

 cultivated places ; in the deserts it prefers sandy ones. Its chief food 

 consists of moles, mice, and small birds. They build in thick bushes. 

 Eggs four, oval, and dirty-white. 



Professor Sundevall supposes this to bo another of Le Vaillant' s 

 manufaotured species. I believe he has seen, at a distance, the rare 



