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



30. Accipiter melanoleuciis (Smitli). Black-and-white 



Sparrow-liaAvk. 



This appears to be evenMvhero a rare species, and I liave 

 never personally met with it. It, however, occurs in eastern 

 Pondoland, as a specimen shot there was sent to me by a 

 friend ; this specimen was in the black, white-breasted 

 plumage, and when shot was after my friend's chickens. 

 Apart from the juvenile plumage, there appear to be two 

 adult plumages — one in wiiich the greater part of the under 

 surface, like the upper surface, is black, and the other in 

 which there is a good deal of white on the under surface. 

 Most authors regard the latter as an immature stage, but 

 this requires confirmation. An immature female in the 

 King William's Town Museum appears to be changing into 

 the later plumage, a good many black feathers, more or less 

 barred with white, appearing amongst the rufous feathers of 

 the under parts. I have never seen an entirely black speci- 

 men, the darkest I have seen having the throat white, the 

 under tail-coverts barred with white, and more or less con- 

 cealed white bases to the feathers of the abdomen. 



This si)ecies should, in my opinion, be placed in a separate 

 subgreuus. It is a verv large bird for a Sparrow-hawk, 

 almost equalling the European Goshawk [Astur ])alumb(iri>.is) 

 in size, and strongly resembling the young of tliat species 

 when in juvenile plumage. Tiie black and white plumage 

 of the adult is strikingly different from that of any other 

 member of the genus Accipiter. 



31. Spizaetus coronatiis (Linn.). Crowned Hawk-Eagle. 

 I have only met with this splendid Hawk-Eagle in the 



forest country of eastern Pondoland, where it does not 

 appear to be very common, or, at least, is not often seen. 

 It is not, as a rule, observed on the wing, but I have 

 occasionally seen it soaring at some height, uttering a 

 loud cry. When seen in fiight it is quite unmistakable 

 owing to the broad, short wings and long tail. Its prey 

 normally consists of monkeys, smaller bush-antelopes, 

 bush-francolins, etc.; but where its haunts are in the 



