Mr. Layard*s ' Birds of South Africa.' 145 



44. Melierax gabar (Daud.). Gabar Hawk. 



Dr. von Heuglin (Ibis, 1861, p. 74) mentions a remarkable dif- 

 ference in size observed in this species between specimens ob- 

 tained in Eastern and in Western Africa ; and it would be in- 

 teresting to ascertain with which of these two forms examples 

 obtained in Southern Africa most nearly agree. Mr. Layard 

 gives the measurement of a South-African specimen, but does 

 not mention the sex, which, for the purpose of such a com- 

 parison as that above suggested, would, of course, be an essen- 

 tial consideration. 



The habits of this Hawk, as observed in Sennaar, are thus 

 described by Dr. A. E. Brehm (J. f. 0. 1857, p. 84) :— " It lives 

 just like our Sparrow-Hawk j but it is not so active, and resem- 

 bles its congener the sluggish Melierax polyzonus ;" and again 

 (J. f. O. 1858, p. 404), "its whistle is clear and penetrating, 

 resembling very much that of Elanus melanopterus ... it pursues 

 insects more than birds." I have not seen this species from 

 Natal. 



46. Melierax musicus (Daud.). Chanting Hawk. 



The geographical range of this strictly southern bird is sin- 

 gularly limited in comparison with that of the nearly allied 

 intertropical species M. polyzonus, Riipp. I have never seen 

 M. musicus from any locality north of the tropic of Capricorn; and 

 Mr. G. R. Gray informs me that the Hawk from the Gambia, in 

 the British Museum, which Dr. Hartlaub, in his ' Ornithologie 

 Westafrica's,^ mentions (pp. 12, 13) as an example oi M. musicus 

 is in fact a specimen of M. polyzonus, and now stands as such 

 in the Museum series of Raptorial birds. 



Mr. Ayres has not met with this species hitherto either in 

 Natal or in the Transvaal, but has transmitted to me the fol- 

 lowing notice of its habits by Mr. Phillips, who observed it in 

 about lat. 25° S. and long. 25° W. : — " It frequents bushy coun- 

 try and lives principally on the ground, but is very shy, and, 

 when disturbed, settles on trees. It runs with exceeding swift- 

 ness, and in habits much resembles the Secretary-bird ; its food 

 consists of grasshoppers and other insects." Mr. Phillips's note 

 was accompanied by a specimen of the bird, which was sent to 

 me for identification. 



