inhabiting the Squth of Africa. 1 1 5 



Obs. — The colors described as marking the old birds, are 

 those most commonly met with, but it may be observed that 

 specimens obtained soon after the moulting season have a ches- 

 nut instead of a tawny tinge, and all the brown variegation 

 deeper and .clearer. Though I have no direct reason for be- 

 lieving- that the plumage described as that of an old male, is 

 only that of one of a middle age, yet from having witnessed 

 so much variety in the markings of birds in that stage, I think 

 it is not improbable that farther observations will prove the 

 mature color to be a little different. 



Beak convex above ; nostrils 

 elliptic. Tarsi eievated, rather 

 slender; acrotarsia scutellated. 

 Toes rather short ; claws acute, 



Genus. MORPHINU 



Rostrum supri convexum ; 

 nares elliptici. Tarsi elevati, 

 subgraciles ; acrotarsia scutel- 

 lata. Digiti subbreves; un- 

 gues acuti. 



Spizaetus, Vieillot. 



MORPHINUS ALBESCENS. 



Falco albescens, Shaw, vol. 7, p. 93. — Le Blanchard, Le 

 Vaillant Ois Afriq. pi. 3. 



M. albescens; cristatus; supra fusco-jlavescente varius; cauda 

 nigra albo fasciata. 



Male. — Bill lead colored; eyes fine yellow; head with a 

 small crest; the whole plumage white, clouded with blackish 

 brown upon the mantle, and soft to the touch ; tail rayed 

 transversely black and white; primary wing feathers with the 

 outer vanes brownish, and the inner ones rayed ; claws a 

 leaden color." Length about two feet six or eight inches. 



Female — " A third larger than the male." 



Young. — As well as Le Vaillant could judge from two 

 young specimens which he found in a nest, the oolor'of the 

 plumage is nearly that of the the old bird, excepting that the 

 brown is more abundant, and all the wing coverts are bor- 

 dered with reddish. When this species leaves the egg it is 

 covered with a tawny white down." 



Le Vaillant found this species in Autinequa land, and the 

 only two specimens which I have ever seen, occurred one in 

 the forest between the Sunday and Bushman Rivers, and the 

 other near Hermanus kraal, on the banks of the Great Fish 

 River ; but neither of them was I able to procure. 



Morphinus occipitalis. Kuifkop Vallc of the Colonists. 



Falco Occipitalis, Daudin, Ois. 2, p. 40.—Skau; 1 , p. 59.— 

 er Tokoor, Jiruce, Le Huppard, Le Vaillant, Ois. Aj'r. pi. 2. 



