1920.] South African Accipitres. 627 



is the male already mentioned as shot at Windhuk. This 

 specimen had the breast of a dark salmon-buff, without a 

 sign of spots, and only a few spots on the abdomen. Gurney 

 states in his 'Notes' that he has never seen a specimen 

 with any rufous tips to the feathers of the hind neck, such 

 as are usually present in F. barbarus. 1 have, however, seen 

 two adult females which sliowed distinct rut'ous tips to tliese 

 feathers. 



As regards tlie occurrence of Falco peregrinus in South 

 Africa, Gurney at various times recorded in 'The Ibis' 

 Falcons from Soutli Africa as belonging to this species, but 

 I have been unable to find out whether these were correctly 

 identified. Gunning and Haagner in their Check-hst include 

 F. peregrinus ou the strength of an adult in the Transvaal 

 Museum from Grahamstown. I have examined this specimen, 

 which is undoubtedly an adult male of F. minor. Later 

 Mr. Austin Roberts, in the * Annals of the Transvaal 

 Museum,' referred a young mounted specimen in the museum 

 to F. peregrinus. Tliis I also believe to be referable to 

 F. nmior. So that at present I do not consider t\\2it F.pert- 

 gritius can be included in the South African avifauna. 



62. Falco biarmicus (Temm.). South African Lanner 

 Falcon. 



This is a common Falcon in South Africa, and I have 

 met with it practically everywhere, but mostly in the more 

 open parts where there are suitable cliffs for breeding and 

 not too much bush about. It is a game-killing Falcon, 

 taking its prey, which consists principally of birds of various 

 sorts, such as pigeons, quails, partridges, etc., in the true 

 falcon manner, either by a swift stoop from a great height, 

 or else in a stern chase. It is a bird of very powerful and 

 swift flight, as is shown by the fact that I saw one chase 

 and finally catch a f nil-grown Hock Pigeon, which is one of 

 our strongest and swiftest fliers, and a bird which would 

 tax even the powers of the European Peregrine. During the 

 summer months, when the Quail are here, the Lanners seem 

 to be more in evidence than ever, and when out Quail 

 shootiug one or more are sure to turn up, and 'wait on' 



