386 A Description of the Birds 



broadly banded brown and reddish tawny, middle ones brown- 

 ish black, with irregular tawny bands or blotches ; the tips of 

 all the feathers reddish white ; tarsi and toes yellow; claws 

 black. 



Inhabits Namaqualand and the country about Oliphant's 

 River, as well as various parts on the eastern coast of the 

 Colony. Of this species I have only met with two specimens, 

 and as both of them had the tips of many of the feathers on 

 the back, of a color distinctly differing from the prevailing 

 one, I am disposed to consider neither of them as birds ar- 

 rived at complete maturity. I should not be surprised if far- 

 ther observation may enable us to identify this with the last 

 described species. 



Circus Acoli. Wilte valk. Leeuwerkvanger. 



Falco Acoli, Daudin, Shaw. L'Acoli, Le rail/ant, torn. 1, 

 pi. 31. 



C. supra ceertdeo-griseus, subtus subalbidus pectore, abdo- 

 mine etfemoribus nigra lineatis. 



Male. — Bill horn-colored towards base, bluish black towards 

 tip; cere red; eyes orange red; color of plumage above pale 

 bluish gray ; beneath whitish, with the breast, belly, and 

 thighs, finely rayed transversely with black ; body slender; 

 legs long ; tail nearly even, and of a dirty brownish white 

 tint ; shafts reddish brown ; legs and toes yellowish ; claws 

 black. 



female. — A third larger than the male, and the cere of a 

 less deep red. 



This species, according to Le I'aillaat, occurs in Zwartland, 

 and about the Twenty-four Rivers. It feeds upon mice, rats, 

 lizards, &c. has a quick flight, and commonly soars along close 

 to the ground, over cultivated lands and sandy deserts. The 

 male and female are for the most part observed together; 

 and the latter constructs her nest in small bushes, and lays 

 four dirty white oval eggs. 



Obs. — Having never met with this bird myself, I include it 

 solelv upon the authority of the naturalist just quoted, whose 

 imperfect description I have introduced; and, gieat as the 

 authority is, I cannot refrain from stating a doubt as to the 

 existence of such a species: being disposed to consider it as 

 the Accipiter Musicus, immediately before moulting. 



Circus Ranivoris. Hekvorsvcmget of the Colonists. 



Falco Ranivorus, Daudin, Shaw. Le Grenouillard, Le 

 V.nllant, torn. I, pi. 22. 

 C- supra brwmeus, rubro-albo variegatus,humeris nigro-brun- 



