1920.] South African Accipitres. 425 



districts of Cape Colony, but uiucli less coiuinon iu the 

 Suutli-West Protectorate, with the exception ot" the vicinity 

 of the great Etoshu Pan on the i)orders of Ovamboland, 

 wiiere I saw a good many in January, 1917. So much has 

 already been written of the habits and plumages of this and 

 other European Harriers that 1 shall add nothing here. 



17. Circus cineraceus (Mont.). Montagu's Harrier. 



This species, although met Avitli in the same districts as 

 the preceding, never appears to be nearly so common ; 

 but the females and young of tiie two being so nearly 

 alike when seen ou the wing, it is difficult to lay down 

 any definite ruling in this respect, and I can only base my 

 conclusions on observations of adult males, and even the 

 latter are not easily distinguished when seen at a distance. 

 In the South-West Protcetui'ate 1 never met with it except 

 m the vicinity of the Etosha Pan, where 1 shot an adult 

 and young male in January, 1917. Although this sjjecies 

 is nsually fonnd in South xVfrica only during the northerti 

 winter, I shot an adult male in East Griqualand on the 

 8th of July, 1911, which is mid-winter in South Africa. 

 I have never met with the melanistie form in South 

 Africa, nor do I know of any such specimens having been 

 secured. 



18. Circus maurus (Temm.). Black Harrier. 



I have never met with this Harrier, which appears to be 

 confined to the southern districts of Ca[)e Colony. I almost 

 tlnnk that the bird is on the verfje of extinction. There 

 appear to be no very recent examples in any of the South 

 African museums. Although I have made diligent enquiries, 

 1 have Ijeen unable to hear of any young specimens, or to 

 obtain one, or even to hear of this species in localities where 

 it is supposed to occur. 1 would therefore Ije very much 

 obliged if anyone knowing where it does still occur would 

 give me any information, and if possible send young and 

 immature specimens. 



