iV) Mr. W. L. Sclatcr on Birds coUected 



" kik." I have observed that it only soars in the very early 

 morning between the first streaks of dawn and until the 

 sun is well u[), when it descends at a terrific pace in one 

 straij^ht " stoop," not checking itself till Avithin the top of 

 the tree. 



The soft parts of the adult are : — J . Irides yellow ; bill 

 slaty; cere, bare skin round ej^es, legs, and toes yellow. 

 ?. hides greyish yellow ; eyelid bright yellow; bill light 

 slaty <'it base, dark at tip ; cere dark yellowish green ; legs 

 and toes bright yellow. Another male not quite so old has 

 the irides hazel ; bill slaty ; cej'e, bare skin round eyes, 

 legs and toes yellow. In the young the irides are raw 

 umber; bill light slaty at base, dark at tip; bare skin 

 round eye, lores, and nostrils greenish yellow ; legs and toes 

 lemon-yellow.] 



544. AsTUR POLVZONOIDES. 



Tv, Klein Letaba, Sept. (3 imm.). 



[Curiously enough I only noted and obtained this little 

 Goshawk at the Klein Letaba. It was generally observed 

 sitting on an outside branch of a tree, and when disturbed 

 only flew to another some forty or sixty yards away. 



The soft parts of an immature bird were : — Irides yellow ; 

 bill dark slaty ; cere greenish yellow ; legs and toes yellow.] 



545. Melierax canorus. 



CC. Klipfontein, May, June, July (3) ; Tv. Woodbush, 



June (1 imm.). 



One egg from Klipfontein, taken Aug. 16, is rather 

 rough in texture, white Avith a slight bluish tinge, and 

 measures 59 x 53 mm. ; it is an almost perfect oval in shape. 



I" Blaauw-valk " of the Colonists. 



Since the Central Cape Colony trip I have only observed 

 this Hawk in Namaqualand, where it Avas plentiful, and in 

 the Transvaal, Avhere only the single specimen secured 

 was seen. It usually perches on telegraph-posts or the 

 tops of large bushes or stunted trees, and feeds largely 

 on lizards. The immature bird from the Transvaal was shot 

 sitting on the post of some wire fencing, and Avas solitary, 



