1920.] ^outh African Accipitre§. 429 



the black birdsj females appear to be far more numerous 

 than males. 



1 have nothing much to record about the life-histoiy of 

 this species, M'hicli has all the habits of a typical Sparrow- 

 hawk, frequenting the bush country and taking its prey, 

 Avhich consists principally of small birds, by a quick dash. 



By Gurney, Sharpe, Sclater, and most other authors 

 it has been j)laced in the genus Melieraa:, but I think 

 it should be removed from this and kept in Gray's genus 

 MicrunisaSj of which it is the type. In proportions and 

 habits it is very ditterent from Melierux. 



J24. Asturinula moiiogrammica (Temm.J. One-streaked 

 Hawk. 



I know uothing of the habits of this species from 

 t)ersonal observation, as I have never met with it. Sharpe 

 iloes not give any description of the juvenile plumage, and 

 Sclaters account is decidedly meagre. 1 have examined 

 a very large series from all parts of South Africa, and 

 have never yet met with a specimen answering to Sclater's 

 description of the young pluiniige, so that I might conclude 

 that either there are no juvenile specimens in auy of the 

 South African museums, or else that there is some error 

 in Sclaters description. There are, however, two examples 

 among the large series in the Transvaal Museum which 

 I take to be either young or immature. These reseml)le 

 adults lu every way, except that all the feathers of the 

 scapulars and wing-coverts have narrow whitish edges, and 

 the tail-bar, instead of being white, is dark grey. 



With regard to the systematic position of this species, I 

 have here followed Gurnc) in placing it near Melierax, to 

 which it seems to me to have some attinity. Sharpe, and 

 following him, Sclater have placed it among the Aqullina;, 

 but I am very doubtful whether it has any real relationship 

 to that group. 



25. Scelospizias polyzonoides (Smith). Little Banded 



Goshawk. 

 I have only met with this little Hawk in the thorn-bush 



