168 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



changing to yellowish green, which is also the colour of the cere ; 

 bare skin round eye and at gape, rich orange ; legs and toes, light 

 flesh-colour; claws, neutral tint (R). 



There is a considerable resemblance between these birds and 

 the Cranes when seen at a distance on the ground, and even on 

 the wing a Secretary-bird looks more like a Crane than a member 

 of the Falconidce; but once in motion, whether walking or running 

 over the " veldt," the resemblance vanishes ; it is hard to conceive 

 anything more graceful than the Crane, while the Secretary-bird 

 walks badly, and runs in the most ungainly fashion. Butler 

 observed this species near Estcourt. 



Polyboroides typicus, Smith, Banded Gymnogene. — Two speci- 

 mens obtained in the kloofs of the Drakensberg, near Newcastle, 

 one by Butler on the 31st July, the other by Feilden about the 

 same time. The bird shot by Butler was a male developed for 

 breeding, and there was a female with it at the time, which he 

 failed to procure. There seems to be a good deal of the Harrier 

 about this genus, as far as external appearance goes, but in flight 

 it is more like a Buzzard. 



Soft parts of specimen obtained as follows : — Male : legs, feet, 

 orbital skin, and cere, lemon-yellow ; bill, whitish at base and 

 tipped black ; iris blackish brown (B). 



Circus pygargtis (Linn.), Montagu's Harrier. — "A beautiful 

 male Harrier passed within a few yards of me between Ladysmith 

 and Colenso on the 20th November. I was in uniform at the 

 time, and had no gun with me. I believe it to have been a 

 Montagu's Harrier, and entered it as such in my note-book, but 

 it is possible that it may have been Circus macrurus, the Pallid 

 Harrier, a much commoner species in these parts. I know 

 Montagu's Harrier well, but have never met with the other 

 before" (R). 



Circus rauivorus (Daud.), South African Marsh Harrier. — 

 Exceedingly common everywhere, nesting in the " vleys," and in 

 the long dry grass surrounding them, in September and October. 

 When a nest was robbed of its eggs the old birds frequently laid 

 again there, sooner than construct a fresh one. Butler con- 

 tributes the following note of its nidification : — " Sept. 22nd, four 

 fresh eggs. The nest was of moderate size, and built in high 

 rushy grass by the side of a small tank, being composed of rushes, 

 intermingled with a few sticks and well lined with fine dry grass. 



