from Deelfontein, Cape Colony. 19 



[Very rare near Deelfontein. Only two specimens were 

 seen and procured ; one of tliera was given by Colonel 

 Sloggett to the Cape Town Museum. The birds were very 

 tame.] 



32. Serpentarius serpentarius. 



Serpentarius secret arius (Scop.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 45 

 (1874) ; id. ed. Layard, p. 8 (1875). 



Serpentarius serpentarius (Miller) ; Sharpe, Hand-1. B. i. 

 p. 241 (1899) ; Reichenow, t. c. p. 528 (1901). 



a. £ ad. Deelfontein, Sept. 18, 1902. Bill bluish, almost 

 livid; bare skin round eyes and cere orange-chrome; feet 

 pale flesh-coloured ; iris silvery grey, with dark markings. 



[In 1901 the Secretary-birds were very common, but as 

 the block-houses were built they were driven away, till in 

 1902 only an occasional individual was to be seen. We took 

 half a dozen nestling Partridges out of the crop in one 

 instance, and there is no doubt that they are very destruc- 

 tive to young hares and birds.] 



33. Melierax canorus. 



Melierax canorus (Risl.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 87 (1874) ; 

 id. ed. Layard, p. 17 (1875) ; id. Hand-1. B. i. p. 247 (1899) ; 

 Reichenow, t. c. p. 542 (1901). 



a. $ ad. Deelfontein, April 30, 1902. 



b, c. <y ad. „ May 21-25, 1902. 



d. ? ad. ,, June 30, 1902. 



e. ? ad. „ Sept. 28, 1902. 



A sign of immaturity in both males and females, even 

 when in full grey dress, is to be seen in the brownish 

 shade which overspreads the grey, and in the broader bars 

 on the under surface. The one really old male in the 

 collection is much more silvery grey in colour, and has 

 the barring of the under surface narrower. These birds 

 have also a very broad black border to the grey scapulars 

 and inner secondaries. 



[Very common, found on the kopjes and veldt, often sitting 

 on bushes in the latter, watching for its prey. It bred in the 

 neighbourhood, but we never succeeded in finding the nest. 



c 2 



