320 ON SAFAKI 



soaring. One of a j^air stooped at a pack of ducks swim- 

 ming on Elmenteita, but did not pursue when they rose. 



Kites, Hawks, etc. 



Black Kite — Milvus korscliun. Abundant during winter, but 

 withdraws by mid- February. Bill horn-colour. 



Egyptian Kite — M. ccgyptius (yellow-billed). Equally abund- 

 ant, but remains throughout the year. A bold camp- 

 scavenger, swooping down and carrying off scraps of meat 

 (or anything red) from the midst of the men. 



Black-winsed Kite — Elanus cceruleus. Common but local. 



Marsh-Harrier — Circus ranivoms. Rare ; but occurs all the year. 

 ,, „ C. ceruginosus. In winter only. 



Hen-Harrier — C. cyaneus. Common in winter on Athi, but 

 none seen there in summer. 



Montagu's Harrier — C. pygargus. Ruwenzori (Archer), also in 

 B. E. Africa. 



Pallid Harrier — C. macrurus. Plentiful in Torquel (Jackson). 



Buzzards of several kinds were observed, but none of 

 European type. Those recorded are — 

 Steppe Buzzard — Butco descrtorum. Ruwenzori (Archer). 

 Jackal Buzzard — B. jaJcal, 

 Augur Buzzard — B. augur. 



Kestrels of various sizes abound. My Spanish friend, the 

 Lesser Kestrel (Cerchneis naumanni) swarmed in winter on the 

 koppies and crags of Lukenia, Athi, etc. Four species have, 

 I believe, been recognised in B.E. Africa. 



[Note. — A striking instance of the marvels of bird-migration 

 occurs in this group. One species of Kestrel (the Eastern Red- 

 footed, Cerchneis arnurensis) breeds in North China and Japan, 

 leaving that region in September. Its passage through India 

 is noticed in October — November. But it spends its winter 

 (that is, the South-African summer) well south of the Zambesi. 

 Thence it returns to China in the following spring. Curiously, 

 its passage has not hitherto been noticed in B.E. Africa. 

 That may arise either from the (natural) scarcity of ornitho- 

 logical observers, or possibly because the birds travel direct 

 across the Indian Ocean.] 



