32 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



flew straight at me, almost sweeping the ground, and 

 with such rapidity that before I could raise myself and 

 point the fowling-piece, I felt the Hawk's wings fanning 

 my face ; and, to save my head from its claws, I had, 

 actually to throw myself on my back, at the same time 

 making a sweep at the bird with my gun ; even after 

 this it hovered over me for a while almost within reach 

 of the gun's muzzle, and evidently only abstained with 

 great reluctance from further attempts at molestation. 



[I am not aware that any figure of this species in its adult 

 plumage has yet heen published. ED.] 



40. Accipiter mfiventris, Smith. Rufous-bellied Sparrow-Hawk. 



Acdpiter rufiventris, Smith's Zool. of S. Africa, pi. 93. 

 Layard's Cat. No. 43. 



This must be a scarce bird in Damara and Great 

 Namaqua Land, as it has but very rarely come under my 

 notice; it is, however, common to the south of the 

 Orange River and in various parts of the Cape Colony ; 

 Mr. Layard also found it amongst the birds collected 

 by the Messrs. Chapman in the Lake-regions. 



41. Circus SwainSOni, Smith. Swainson's Harrier. 



Circus Swainsonii, Smith's Zool. of S. Africa, pis. 43 & 44. 



Circus Swainsonij Gurney, Birds Damar., Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 2. 



Andersson, ibid. p. 4. 



Circus Swainsonii, Layard's Cat. No. 49. 



Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 392. 



This bird is migratory, appearing towards the return 

 of the rainy season in Damara and Great Namaqua 

 Land ; I have observed very few adult specimens ; but 

 young and middle-aged birds are pretty numerous. 



