FALCONID^. 35 



procured a fine adult <5 at Swellendam, and I shot an adult p and 

 the young bird mentioned above near the Observatory at Cape Town, 

 below which is a marsh much frequented by harriers of several 

 descriptions. I also killed a fine 6 in the crater of an extinct volcano 

 at Johanna, one of the Commoro Islands, where I saw many specimens. 

 It preys upon reptiles, mice, and small birds, remains of which I 

 found in the stomach of those procured. Mr. Atmore writes : " This 

 fellow hunts his ground like a pointer, and drops suddenly on its prey, 

 which, from his minute inspection of fences, I suspect to be mice." 



51. CirCUS RaniVOrOUS. (Daud.) C. Levaillantii; 



Smith (the young bird) ; Le Grenouillard, Le Vail., 

 p. 23. 



ALL the upper parts of the body earthy-brown, that is, all 

 the visible parts of the feathers ; the hidden parts are white 

 on either side of the quill. Throat and cheeks thinly sprinkled 

 with whitish feathers, with a brown band ; lower parts clear- 

 brown, slightly mingled with white. On the legs rusty red 

 feathers, edged and spotted with white ; wings brown, with 

 transverse white bars on the under sides, Tail rufous-brown, 

 and banded. Length, 19" ; wing, 15" ; tail, 9". 



YOUNG PLUMAGE. Neck, throat, and anterior part of 

 breast deep-brown ; lower parts reddish-brown ; shoulders 

 in two shades of brown. Fore part of neck and breast white, 

 or reddish- white ; wings deep-brown, with pale tips. Tail 

 deep-brown, with pale bands and tips. Iris brown-yellow. 



Feeds chiefly on frogs and small aquatic birds, and sometimes fish. 

 Abundant throughout the colony, frequenting marshy places. The 

 nest is built amongst rushes, and is made with the stalks and heaped- 

 up leaves of water-plants. Eggs three or four, of a dull white : axis, 

 1" 10'" ; diam., 1" &". 



The marsh below the Observatory is a favourite breeding-place for 

 these birds, and several nests are annually made among the rushes. 

 I found it very abundant at Zoetendals Vley, and saw it even in the 

 dry Karroo country about Beaufort West. 



52. CirCUS MauniS, Temm.; G. Ater, Gray nee 

 Yieil. 



GENERAL colour black, tinged with rufous ; rump white ; 

 tail on the upper side with four broad bars of grey, which 

 below show white ; inside of wing more or less white, upper 

 side grey ; a few white spots on the belly and flanks ; cere 

 of bill, legs, and irides bright orange-yellow ; claws black. 

 Length, 20" ; wing, 13" 6'" ; tail, 9" 9'". 



" By some writers, this species is thought to be a black variety of 

 C. Cineraseens," G. R. Gray. 



