18 'Mv. ^\. L. Sclater on Birds collected 



prey to some vantage spot to devour^ but eat it where 

 cauglit. 



The soft parts of an immature male are : — Irides yellow ; 

 1)111 dark slaty, cere greenish ; legs and toes yellow.] 



553. Circus raxivorus. 



CC. Plettenberg Bay, Mch. (1); Z. Umfolosi Station, 

 July, Aug. (2); Illuliluwe Stream (1); Tv. Wakkerstroom, 

 :\Ich., Apl. (2). 



[I have observed the Marsh-Harrier at Plettenberg Bay, 

 Zululaud ; in the Transvaal ; and in Portuguese East Africa, 

 in the Inhambane and Beira districts. It is generally seen 

 hawking backwards and forwards over extensive vleis and 

 marshes, and occasionally over stretches of long grass 

 country. It feeds largely on frogs and vlei-rats, and I saw 

 one on the outskirts of Pietcrsburg take a Pigeon from a 

 flock of tame birds that were circling round. It struck it 

 Avith a pretty stoop, both Harrier and Pigeon coming to the 

 ground together. 



It breeds in the thick reeds and sedges in vleis and 

 marshes, but although I have on several occasions disturbed 

 the old birds I have never succeeded in finding the nest. 



The soft part are : — Ad. (^ . Irides brown ; bill black ; cere, 

 legs, and toes yellow. Imm.t^ & ? . Irides yellow ; bill black, 

 cere slightly yellow ; legs and toes yellow.] 



554. POLYBOROIDES TYPICUS. 



Tv. Wakkerstroom, Mch. (1) ; P. Masambeti, Oct. (1) ; 

 Beira, Jan. (1). 



[" Skosi '' of the Ntebis. 



I have only noticed this species at Wakkerstroom and 

 the Inhambane, Beira, and Gorongoza districts of Portu- 

 guese East Africa ; it was observed on my overland trip 

 i'rom Gorongoza to Tete, but was not seen actually near 

 Tete itself. It appears to be confined to more or less 

 Avooded country, but cannot anywhere be considered plentiful, 

 and is always observed in pairs. It is generally noticed 

 hawking about native clearings and feeds largely on locusts 

 and large ground-beetles, taking its prey to some bare tree 



