26 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
white, blotched with the prevailing colour on the sides of the chest ; 
two large patches of the same are over the head of thigh-bone, the 
thighs themselves being of the same colour, mottled with white. 
Her length is 21}’’; wing, 13’’ 9’’’ ; tail, 12’. 
Fig. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 18. 
Sub-fam. BUTEONINZ. 
28. Burro JAKAL. Jackal Buzzard. 
This Buzzard is very common throughout the colony, and its well- 
marked colours are plainly distinguishable at a great distance; it is 
therefore easily recognized. Many specimens were procured by Vic- 
torin at the Knysna, and Mr. Rickard tells us itis very plentiful both 
at Hast London and Port Elizabeth. In Natal, according to Mr. 
Ayres, it is “shy, but not rare.” The following notes are from 
Mr. Andersson’s book :—‘To the best of my belief this Buzzard 
has never been observed in Damara Land ; and it is scarce in Great 
Namaqua Land, where, indeed, I have only occasionally seen it in 
the southern parts, usually in the neighbourhood of rocks.” It has 
not yet been found farther to the north either in the Zambesi 
country or in Benguela. It appears to capture its prey more by 
surprise and stealth than by hunting, sitting motionless on a bush, 
or tree, till some unsuspecting Jerboa or Sand-rat (Bathyergus) 
emerges from its hole, when down swoops the Buzzard, clutches the 
victim in its claws and bears it away, to be devoured at leisure. It 
is a heavy-flying bird, but sometimes ascends to great altitudes, 
wheeling in vast circles, and uttering a shrill, stridulous cry. An 
accomplished observer, whose name will often appear in these pages, 
writes as follows: “This bird, as you very justly observe in your book, 
is ‘common throughout the colony.’ It frequents rocky or partially 
wooded localities, and occurs always in pairs. It hunts by sight, 
hovering over rocky or grassy vallies, and poising itself in the air for 
a minute or two at a time, probably over some doubtful object, which 
it will either leave or pounce down upon with the greatest rapidity, 
or it will station itself upon some prominent rock or tree and there 
motionless will watch for hours together, waiting for ‘ something 
to turn up.’ The food of this Buzzard consists of rats, mice, rep- 
tiles and insects, and some assert that it preys also upon birds, such 
as the young of the partridge, pheasant, &c, but this 1 greatly doubt, 
