16 The South African Birds of Prey 



The Little Banded Goshawk {Astur polyzoiioides) is 

 perhaps one of the commonest hawks in Mashonaland, 

 and is not rare in the Transvaal. Mice, lizards, small 

 birds and insects, form its diet, according to Mr. W. 

 L, Sclater, while Marshall quotes this as consisting 

 of lizards, snakes, locusts and winged termites ; so it 

 would appear that the good it does considerably out- 

 weighs the harm. It is blue- grey above and white 

 below, with a banded tail 



The Chanting Goshawk {Melierax canorus) is the 

 Blaauw Valk of the Boers. It feeds on rats, mice, rep- 

 tiles and insects, thereby doing good ; but, according to 

 Sclater, it devours hares and game-birds, thus creating 

 damage. It stands to reason that if the bird attacked 

 partridges and korhaans it would devour fowls whenever 

 an opportunity offered. This bird is slate-grey above, 

 with a white rump, and the tail feathers (except the two 

 centre ones) tipped with white, becoming broader towards 

 the outer feathers. Total length about 20 inches. 



The Gabar Goshawk (AT. gahar) feeds on mice, small 

 birds, lizards and insects, and may be classed economically 

 with the foregoing species. 



The Harriers (Circus), of which there are five species, 

 all feed upon rats, mice, locusts, grasshoppers, small 

 reptiles, frogs, birds and their eggs, so their utility very 

 probably outweighs the harm they do ; and unless actually 

 caught in the act of stealing, they should ?iot be ruthlessly 

 shot. 



The South African Lanner (Falco hiarmicus) is reported 

 as being a scourge to the poultry-yard and dovecot. It 

 will, however, eat locusts and grasshoppers, as well as 

 game-birds, snakes, and small mammals. The summing 

 up of the evidence so far points to the fact that this bird 

 is far more harmful to man than useful. It is dark slate 



