856 MR. A. loveiiidgk: notes on 



English Sparrow-Hawks note when disturbed. A few da5'-s later 

 the birds began sitting. It was quite impossible to reach the 

 nest, not merely because there was not a branch for 60 feet vip, 

 but because a swarm of bees nearly two feet in length were 

 under the junction of the first branch and the trunk, whilst 

 a second swarm hung from the big limb on which the nest 

 was placed, about 30 feet from the main stem (Morogoro, 

 20.ii. 17). 



Melierax gabar Daud. 



Gabar Goshawk. The feet of three birds were in the crop and 

 stomach ; they appeared to be those of Grass-Wa.rblers (Moro- 

 a'oro, 2.vi. 17). The melanistic form was obtained a few days 

 later at the same spot (Morogoro, 5. vi. 17). 



AsTUR SPHENURUS Riipp. 



Stomach of Riippell's Goshawk was found to contain locusts 

 (Morogoro, 12.vii. 17). 



AsTUR tachiro {'i'SYAyzJE Neum.). 



Probablyitwas this raceof the African Goshawkwhichlobtained 

 at Nairobi (20. x. 15) and Morogoro (20. xi. 17). 1 found the nest 

 of this species on November 17th ; it was situated at the top of a 

 tree whose bark was studded with thorns ; the tree was on the 

 banks of a stream in thick bush. On November 20th, I revisited 

 the nest at daybreak and saw the hen feeding the young ; she 

 was very shy and, being disturbed, did not return. In the 

 evening she was on the nest, but slipped silently away as we 

 approached. We had brought ropes, which assisted the native 

 in his ascent ; climbing was a very tedious business, as the 

 thorns had to be cut away all up the trunk. The two young in 

 the nest were of very different size, and one would think there 

 was quite a week's difference in their ages; the smaller bird was 

 still in the down stage. 



After removing the young, I sat down in the gathering gloom 

 and watched the dark outline of the nest silhouetted against the 

 sky ; an indistinct " something " sailed past, and the next moment 

 the mother could just be seen alighting on the edge of the 

 nest. She had scarcely time to close her wings when I fired, 

 and she fell for\^■ard dead into the empty nest. This involved 

 another climb for the boy. After gathering up the rope, 

 hatchet, and spoils we stumbled back through the bush to camp, 

 guided by the gleaming thread of water which lay in the river 

 bottom. 



I skinned the bird at once — it was in fine condition — and then 

 fed the young with the flesh cut into strips ; they ate v/ith avidity. 

 Next morning I fixed up a very fair imitation of their home on 

 the top of a bush in the python s cage. On the l?8th they began 

 to feed themselves, and were fond of standing up in the nest. 



