1920.] South African Accipitres. 411 



secure a location for themselves and mates to share it with 

 them. 



Although during the many years I have lived in South 

 Africa I have travelled through most parts of it, 1 have only 

 been able to do any systematic collecting in eastern Pondo- 

 land, East Griqualand, and recently in the country lately 

 known as German South-West Africa but now as the South- 

 West Protectorate. Therefore my notes refer principally to 

 these districts. 



In the following notes I shall have occasion to refer to 

 the following works : — 



(1) Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum. 



Vol. I. by R. Bowdler Sharpe. 



(2) The late J. H. Gurney's "Notes'' on the above 



Catalogue, which were published in ' The Ibis ' 

 between 1875 and 1882. 



(3) 'A List of the Diurnal Birds of Prey' by the late 



J. H. Gurney. 



(4) ' The Fauna of South Africa ' : Birds. Vol. III. 



by Mr. W. L. Sclater. 



The first I will refer to briefly as "Sharpe/'" the second 

 as Gurney's "Notes," the third as Gurney's "List," and the 

 fourth as "Sclater." 



In conclusion I would like to thank the Directors of the 

 Transvaal, South African, Port Elizabeth, Albany, Natal, 

 Durban, and Rhodesian Museums for their great kindness 

 in answering my numerous queries, and in many cases 

 sending me specimens for examination. Also Mr. W. L. 

 Sclater and ]\Ir. J. H. Gurney for kindly giving me certain 

 information with regard to specimens in the British and 

 Norwich Museums. 



1. Serpentarius secretarius (Scop.). Secretary Bird. 



I have never found this bird very numerous, but have 

 seen it practically in every part of South Africa I have 

 visited; it is, perhaps, scarcest in the South-West Protec- 

 torate, where I have only met with it on one or two 



