FALCON ID JE. 25 



brown. Female with the forehead bluish- grey ; the upper 

 parts deep-brown ; the lower pale, yellowish red, with large 

 reddish-brown spots. Length, 24J" ; wing, 16" 9"' ; tail, 11J". 



I have not seen any specimens of this bird from the Cape Colony ; 

 but two have been procured in Natal by Mr. Ayres. My description 

 is quoted from Macgillivray's " British Birds." It is a very variable 

 species. 



It is now generally believed that Le Vaillant's " Tachard " is founded 

 on a specimen of this bird! 



Genus MILVUS, Cuvier. 



Bill laterally compressed ; the culmen straight at the base, 

 and then much curved to the tip, which is acute, the lateral 

 margins somewhat straight; the nostrils oval, and placed 

 rather obliquely in the cere. Wings very long, with the 

 third and fourth quills the longest. Tail very long and 

 broad, rounded or more or less forked at the end. Tarsi 

 very short, partly plumed from the base, and the rest cover- 

 ed with scales. Toes rather short, with the outer united at 

 its base with the middle one ; the claws long and curved. 



36. MIIVUS Ater. Falco Ater et Austriacus, Gmel.; 

 M. Govinda ; M. (Etoleus, Lesson. ; M. Affini's, 

 Gould. 



GENERAL colour deep hair-brown, tinged with rufous on the 

 under parts, particularly on the flanks, thighs, and under 

 tail- co verts ; each feather has a black shaft. Tail much 

 forked, and barred with grey-brown. Length. 21" ; wine:, 

 18"; tail, 10". 



This kite was received from Mr. David Arnot, of Colesberg, who 

 shot it in a street of that town. It does not appear to have been seen 

 before this instance in Southern Africa. I have since had specimens 

 from the Zambesi, brought down by Mr. J. C. Chapman. From his 

 descriptions, it appears to resemble in habits those of India and Oey- 

 lon, frequenting by preference the neighbourhood of native towns, 

 near water, and feeding upon offal, particularly that of fish. It wheels 

 round in large and easy circles, rising and falling, without flapping its 

 wings for an immense length of time. It catches up its food with its 

 foot, and eats it in the air, bending the head down, and bringing up 

 one or both feet to meet it. Some eggs in my possession, procured by 

 me in Ceylon, are of a dull white, with here and there small dry-blood- 

 coloured dots : axis, 2" 2'" ; diam., 1" 9'". 



37, !VIil3msJP^ra^iCUS. Le Parasite, Le Vail., 

 PI. 20. 



THE whole of the upper parts tan-brown, each feather with a 

 paler edge ; breast tan- brown ; top of head, neck, cheeks, 

 P 



