BIRDS. 325 



by Browne in his African Travels, and is said to be ex- 

 tremely frequent in the country of Darfur, where it flies 

 about in thousands. 



The African snake-eater (Falco serpentariusy Linn.) is 

 usually placed between the vultures and hawks. It is a long- 

 legged species, of peculiar aspect, resembling in some re- 

 spects rather a wader than a bird of prey. It inhabits dry 

 open plains in the lower parts of Southern Africa, and feeds 

 on reptiles. Le Vaillant found in the craw of a single bird 

 twenty-one young tortoises, three snakes, and eleven lizards, 

 and, besides these, there was a large ball in the stomach 

 formed entirely of the scales of tortoises, the vertebrae of 

 snakes and lizards, the legs of locusts, and the wing-cases 

 of coleopterous insects. 



Of more noble habits are the eagles, hawks, and other 

 birds of prey, which, for the most part, disdaining the cor- 

 rupting carcasses, whether of man or beast, overcome by 

 speed of wing, and pounce with their talons on all such 

 living creatures as they are able to subdue. 



Among the eagles of Africa may be mentioned the grif- 

 fard eagle (Fa/co armiger), native to the country of the Na- 

 maquas, and the imperial eagle (F. imperialis of Temm.) 

 described by Savigny in the splendid French work on Egypt. 

 This latter species also inhabits the mountains of the south- 

 em parts of Europe. 



Of the numerous hawks, or smaller species of the falcon 

 tribe which inhabit this continent, we shall mention in the 

 first place, the chanting falcon (F. musicus, Daudin). We 

 must not suppose, from the name of this species, that its 

 notes in any way resemble the harmonious tones of the 

 nightingale, or those of even our less celebrated songsters. 

 Its voice is merely a little clearer than usual, although it 

 seems impressed with a high idea of its own powers. It 

 will sit for half a day perched upon the summit of a tall 

 tree, uttering incessant cries, which the darkness of the 

 night is sometimes insufficient to terminate. It builds in 

 woods in the interior of Caffraria, and commits great havoc 

 among quails and partridges. The crested African falcon 

 (F. galericulatus) resembles the peregrine falcon of Europe. 

 It dwells by the seashore and the borders of lakes, and feeds 

 on fish, crabs, and the testaceous tribes. The ranivorus, or 

 frog-eating falcon (F. ranivorus) is a native of the Cape ot 

 £e 



