CIRCUS MACRURUS,. 11 
9. Cricus MACRURUS. Pallid Harrier. 
Circus swainsonii, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 34 (1867). 
This Harrier has a wide range in South Africa, though doubtless 
occurring, as Mr. Ayres states, only in our summer months, when it 
arrives from the north, and makes South Africa its winter quarters. 
Smith says he saw a few specimens near Cape Town, Natal, the 
mouth of the Orange River, and the Tropic of Capricorn. Mr. 
Jackson sends it from Nel’s Poort, and we have shot it near the 
Observatory, Cape Town, in company with C.ranivorus. Dr. Ather- 
stone also has procured it near Grahams Town. Our excellent 
correspondent, Mr. Rickard, has also sent us word that he procured 
one specimen near Hast London, and marks its occurrence near Port 
Elizabeth as probable, but not yet thoroughly identified. Although 
not recorded from Natal, Mr. Ayres has met with this Harrier in 
the Transvaal territory, where, he says, it is seen “ only during the 
summer months and then not plentifully. They skim quietly about 
amongst the trees and houses of Potchefstroom.” On the west coast, 
according to Mr. Andersson, it is “ migratory, appearing towards the 
return of the rainy season in Damara and Great Namaqua Land.” 
Its food consists of small quadrupeds, reptiles, birds, etc.; it 
prefers a low damp locality. 
“According to a note received from Mr. Henry Buckley, who 
has Indian specimens in his collection, the eggs vary from 1°56 
inch x 1:23 to 1:64 2: 3, and are bluish-white in colour. 
The following Seppe are extracted from the editor’s ‘ Cata- 
logue of Birds’ 
Adult male. nei pale ‘pluish grey, the crown and intersca- 
pulary region very slightly darker; lores, a distinct eyebrow and 
sides of face white, the ear coverts slightly streaked with ashy; under 
surface of body white with a slight greyish shade on the facial ruff, 
on the sides of the breast, and on the greater under wing-coverts ; 
quills blackish brown, primaries externally washed with ashy grey, the 
secondaries entirely of the latter colour and tipped with white ; 
primaries white at base of inner web, the rest of the quills entirely 
white underneath, the secondaries with a nearly obsolete greyish sub- 
terminal band; upper tail-coverts white, barred across with ashy 
grey; middle tail-feathers uniform ashy grey, the rest white with 
seven or eight bars of ashy grey, all tipped with white, under surface 
of tail entirely white, the bars less distinct. Bill black ; feet yellow ; 
