422 Lieut. C. G. Fincli-Davies on [Ibis, 



never seen this species attiick game-birds as described and 

 figured ])y the same author, and I think such an occurrence 

 must be very rare, as although it is a bird of strong flight, 

 the bill and feet are comparatively weak, and not adapted to 

 attacking and killing any large prey. In my experience 

 that prey consists principally of such small game as 

 snakes, lizards, rats, and mice — in fact nothing larger or 

 stronger than a young hare ; added to which it will also 

 feed on carrion, and at one of my camps quite a number 

 were caught in traps baited with raw meat and set for 

 jackals. I have only found one nest. Tiiis was placed in a 

 fork of one of the large branches of an enormous '' Camel- 

 thorn " tree, and was quite inaccessible. The smaller 

 branches of the same tree were crowded with thorny nests 

 of the Buffalo Weaver {Textor niger). In Pondoland the 

 natives have some superstitions with regard to the Bateleur, 

 and at one time witch-doctors Avould be willing to give as 

 much as a cow for the body of one of these birds, from 

 which a powerful '• medicine '' was made, with which the 

 fighting men were doctored in war-time. 



The jjrogress from the juvenile to the adult plumage 

 appears to be very gradual, but there seems to be no 

 distinct intermediate stage, as immature birds may be 

 found showing every stage of progress. I have already 

 mentioned a specitnen in the Zoological Gardens at Pretoiia 

 Mhich was said to have taken eight years to attain the ad nit 

 ])lunutge. It has been suggested that the difference in colour 

 of the secondary wing-feathers in adults is sexual, the male 

 haviiiji" these uniform black, while in the female they are 

 grej^ with a terminal black baud. From my own experience 

 I am inclined to believe this to be the case, but 1 have not 

 been a'ole to examine a sufficient number of correctly-sexed 

 specimens to decide the question. With regard to the white- 

 backed form which was named H. leucoiiotus by lluppell, 

 much discussion has taken place from time to time as to 

 Avhetiicr it should be considered as merely a variety, 

 a very old bird, or a distinct species. Personally I am 

 inclined to the beliej' that it mav be considered as a 



