4S0 Lieut. C. G. Fincli-Davies on [Ibis, 



country of the South-West Protectorate, where it is not 

 uncommon. In liabits it appears closely to resemble the 

 English Sparrow-hawk, living amongst thick cover and 

 preying on small birds ; l)ut 1 have occasionally found the 

 remains of locusts in its crop. I have sometimes seen it 

 perched on a small bush situated iii the middle of some 

 open ground, and T believe on the look-out for small 

 rodents. I have nothing to record with regard to plumage- 

 changes, but I would note that all the adults I have shot 

 have had the irides bright red. 



26. Scelospizias tachiro (Daud.). South African Gos- 

 hawk. 



This is a common Hawk in all the forest country in 

 eastern Pondoland, and I have occasionally met with it in 

 the adjoining districts of East Griqualand. It is a powerful 

 and highly [)redatory species, and a great enemy of all small 

 birds and mammals. It does not, however, confine itself 

 entirely to birds and mammals, as 1 have taken the remains 

 of lizards and frogs from the crop. It is truly wonderful 

 to watch th.e ease and speed with which one of these 

 hawks will dash through the thickest bush and whip some 

 unsuspecting bird from its perch before it has time to know 

 what has happened. They are also very destructive to 

 poultry, where any are kept at places near their haunts. 

 In the breeding season the males have a curious habit of 

 soaring in circles high over the bush and at the same time 

 uttering a curious squeaky cry — a habit I have never 

 noticed in any other of the short-winged hawks. I have 

 noticed that there is a distinct sexual difference in the 

 })lumages of the adults of this species. In the females the 

 colour of the upper parts is brownish grey^ and the under 

 parts are somewhat dingy in colour compared to those parts 

 in the males^ with coarser bai's ; Avhereas in males the upper 

 surface is a clear slate-grey, and the under parts are more 

 brightly coloured with the bars narroAver and more even. 

 In the males also the tail alv.ays has two clearly marked 

 white spots on the central tail-feathers. 



