154 FALCONIFORMES chap. 



aries ; the wide crest, short rectrices, red cere, lores and feet, render- 

 ing it most remarkable. H. leuconotus is hardly more than a creamy- 

 backed variety. It sails aloft in powerful style, and dashes like 

 lightning vipon the snakes, mammals, and lizards, which form its 

 prey ; the nest of sticks is placed in trees or rocks, and contains, 

 it is said, from two to four white eggs. The crested EutriorcMs 

 of Madagascar, and Dryotriorchis of the Gold Coast, short of wing 

 but long of tail, should probably be placed here. A fine broad 

 crest also adorns Spilornis, of which genus some seven members 

 occur in the Indian Eegion, and the Celebes group. S. vrndulatus 

 {clieela), extending from India to China, has the head black and 

 white, the remaining plumage brown, with whitish markings 

 above, round white spots below, and a broad light band across 

 the white-tipped tail. ,S'. sula'ensis of the Sula Islands differs in 

 being barred beneath ; aS'. liolospilus of the Philippines has the 

 whole body spotted. These arboreal forms live upon snakes, frogs, 

 insects, and birds, the last of which they hunt in pairs, converg- 

 ing gradually on the victim from each side : the note is mournful ; 

 the small nest of twigs, lined with grass or leaves, is placed in 

 trees ; the two eggs are rufous or white with red markings. 



The slender Polyhoro'ides typictis, of most of the Ethiopian 

 Eegion, combines the appearance of a Harrier with that of a 

 typical Hawk ; it is grey with white tips to the black remiges and 

 rectrices, and shews black and white bars on the lower breast and 

 abdomen. A whitish band crosses the tail, while the naked cheeks 

 and cere are yellow. P. radiatus of Madagascar is more silvery. 

 Eesembling the following group in habits, these birds prefer grass- 

 lands, especially when newly burnt, take comparatively short 

 flights, and rest more frequently on trees or stumps. They are 

 said to be able to bend the tibio-tarsal joint either way. 



Circus, ranging over nearly the whole world, comprises some 

 seventeen species, in most of which the sexes differ in coloration 

 an unusual fact in Eaptorial forms. They are graceful and soft- 

 plumaged, with long legs, wings, and tail, the partial facial ruff 

 creating a likeness superficial and not warranted by structure 

 to the owls. Non-arboreal and by nature shy, they may be seen 

 hovering or circling aloft, or systematically beatiiig over the flats 

 with buoyant untiring flight, the pinions flapping slowly and 

 regularly, and exposing a broad surface to the air. They can, 

 liowever, move with rapidity, and approach their breeding-quarters 



