56 



A NATURALIST IN THE TRANSVAAL. 



poultry reared in open situations. The most common of 

 these depredators is the Rufous Buzzard (Buteo deser- 

 torum) and an occasional Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus 

 wgyptius). These birds, especially the former, were par- 





Buteo desertorum. Post of Observation. 



ticularly numerous about the month of December, and 

 were a great source of trouble to the small squatters on 

 the veld, who erect their shanties (for no other word 

 will adequately express the poverty of these dwellings) 



