EAST AFRICAN BIRDS. 855 



the tree for some minvites. Nearly a month later a flight of 

 locusts visited the neighbourhood, and my bird exhibited such 

 excitement that I released it to see what it would do. Flying 

 straight to a large tree in the middle of the camp, it captured a 

 locust ; for the next half-hour it remained about the tree, taking 

 short flights after the insects and returning to its perch to eat 

 them. The following were found in the stomachs of specimens 

 collected : — A lizard {Eremias spekii) and skink {Mahuia varia) 

 and many locusts in one (Morogoro, 4. xii. 17) ; a lizard [Latastia 

 longicaudata) (Morogoro, 5. ii. 18); a small bird (Dar-es-Salaam, 

 17. xi, 18); a rat and lizard and a parasitic worm {A.recto- 

 vaginata) (Dodoma, 6. xii. 18). 



Pernis apivorus Linn. 



The Honey-Buzzard was twice shot at Morogoro (23. ii. & 

 l.iv. 18); both were females, the former with grey head, the 

 latter with brown. In the stomach of the former were found 

 a large number of pupse and grubs of the grey hornet (Belonogastei' 

 griseus). It has been said that the feathers around the eyes 

 of this Buzzard protect it from stings, but anyone who has seen 

 the long stings of Beloiiogaster might be forgiven for doubting it. 



Elanus c^ruleus Desf. 



The Black-shouldered Kite — a rare visitor to England — is com- 

 paratively common in the East African bush, where its dove- 

 coloured plumage makes it look something like a sea-gull when 

 on the wing. Specimens were obtained at Nairobi, Dodoma, 

 Morogoro, and Lumbo. In the stomach of one was a mouse skull, 

 beautifully cleaned and undamaged (5.ii. 18). 



Aquila rapax Temm. 



The Tawny Eagle was shot at Morogoro (9.ii. 18) and 

 Dodoma (6. xii. 18). The former had its stomach full of putrid 

 goat's flesh, and the latter with bullock flesh and ofial thrown out 

 from the slaughter-house, where it was keej^ing company with 

 vultures and kites. It had a parasitic worm [Ascaris depressus) 

 in its stomach. On the road from Bissel to Longida, I i-ode up 

 to an Eagle which was feeding on a dead mule. It allowed me 

 to approach within 30 feet and, when I reined-up, looked at me 

 for a moment, and then went on coolly teai-ing off strips of flesh 

 with its beak, which it then transferred to its claws, to be held 

 whilst rendered still smaller. In the Kedong Yalley two young- 

 Eagles, just fledged, were seen sitting on the rocks at the base of 

 the towering cliff, where their nest evidently was (17. vii. 15). 



LOPHOAETCJS OCCIPITALIS Daud. 



This Crested Eagle was found to be nesting in February. The 

 nest was situated in a tree at a height of 80 feet from the ground. 

 The cry of the old birds when one approached reminded me of an 



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