fF 2a 
V. On a Raptorial Bird transmitted by My. Anversson from Damara Land. 
By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.8. 
Read November 14th, 1865. 
[PLare XXIX.] 
T HE raptorial bird now exhibited has been recently sent to me, with some other birds 
collected in Damara Land, by my friend Mr. Charles J. Andersson, to whose exertions 
we have already been frequently indebted for valuable contributions to our knowledge 
of the ornithology of that part of South-western Africa. 
Mr. Andersson remarks, with reference to the present specimen, which was procured 
at Objimbinque, Damara Land, on the 10th of March last, “I have only obtained this 
individual, a female, shot by my servant, who observed another, which was probably 
the male. I imagine I have once or twice observed this species near my place ( Objim 
binque) just before dusk. I strongly suspect that it is a nocturnal or seminocturnal 
bird. I found only a Bat in the stomach of the specimen sent, of which the description 
and measurements are as follows :— 
“Trides bright lemon-yellow; extremities of mandibles black ; basal parts and gape 
bluish lead-colour; tarsi and toes bluish white; claws bluish black. 
“Entire length 1 ft. 677; in.; length of wings when folded 1 ft. 144 in.; length of 
tarsus 2;5;in.; length of middle toe 2,5 in.; length of tail 77,in.; length of 
bill from corner of gape to the tip of the mandible, straight, 15%; in.” 
To the above remarks of Mr. Andersson I have to add the following :—The colours 
of the plumage are dark brown mingled with pure white, the tint of the brown being 
very similar to that of a dark specimen of Buteo vulgaris; a very few feathers of a still 
darker tinge, however, are apparent on the occiput and back. With the exception of a 
line of white above and below the eye, the feathers on the upper part of the head are 
brown: this colouring extends slightly below the gape, and also over the whole of the 
upper surface of the bird, including the wings and tail; but the basal parts of the 
feathers on the upper part of the head, the nape, and back are white, though this is not 
apparent except when a feather is displaced; but this white becomes somewhat more 
visible where it is mingled with the brown, in the form of bars and spots, on all the 
feathers of the wings, both above and below, and including the upper and under wing- 
coverts, as also on the upper and under tail-coverts ; the upper surface of the tail bears 
five transverse bars of a pale brown, which on the lower surface of the tail-feathers are 
white, and the tail is also very slightly tipped with dirty white. The throat is white, 
but is bisected for the upper three-fourths of its length by a brown medial line, starting 
