CIRCUS MAURUS. 13 
young bird near the Observatory at Cape Town, below which is a 
marsh much frequented by Harriers of several descriptions. It has 
also been procured at Tharfield, near the Kowie, by Mr. Holden . 
Bowker. 
It preys upon reptiles, mice, and small birds, remains of which 
we found in the stomach of those procured. Mr. Atmore writes : 
“ This fellow hunts his ground like a pointer, and drops suddenly on 
its prey, which, from his minute inspection of fences, I suspect to be 
mice.” 
Concerning its appearance in the Damara country Mr. Gurney has 
the following note :—‘I have seen specimens obtained by Mr. An- 
dersson at Objimbinque in Damara Land and at Ondonga, Ovampo 
Land.” 
Adult Male. General colour of upper parts, neck, and breast light 
bluish-grey ; the quill-feathers of the wings inclining to black; belly 
and thighs white, the latter with the flanks longitudinally streaked 
with bright rufous. Tail pearl-grey above, white beneath, the inner 
webs obscurely barred. Two outermost feathers on each side barred 
with rufous, which is deepest on the basal part of the feathers. 
Trides, legs, and feet fine yellow. Length, 17”; wing 143’’; tail, 9”’. 
Female and immature Male. General colour umber-brown above ; 
below pale rufous-yellow, faintly streaked along the shaft of each 
feather with a darker tint; collar round the neck rufous. Outer 
tail-feathers white, the rest barred distinctly white and brown. A 
young female shot by ourselves on the Cape Flats is very dark-brown 
above, many of the feathers being edged with bright rufous ; below 
bright rufous, streaked with black. 
Fig. Gould, B. Hur. pl. 35. 
11. Crrcus MAURUS. Black Harrier. 
This bird has been more than once confounded with the black 
variety of Montagu’s Harrier which not unfrequently occurs in 
Europe, but this idea is erroneous, for it is a good species, distinct in 
all its plumages. 
Tt is not at all uncommon in the neighbourhood of Cape Town, 
and it is also found about Grahams Town ;—indeed throughout the 
Colony. Mr. Rickard tells us it is not very common near Port 
Elizabeth but very plentiful at Hast London. Victorin procured it 
both in the Karroo and at the Knysna. Although common enough 
