£0 
Pracr. 
56. 
DESERT 
F - 
Descriprion- 
A LG: O. Ni : 
paler at the bafe, and the fecondaries mixed outwardly with white: 
tail deep rufous, with a fpot of black near the end ofeach feather ; the 
* two outer ones only banded with dufky: beneath all is rufous grey. 
The female differs in being larger, and the red on the breaft not fo 
high coloured. 
This fpecies is moftly feen about habitations of the colonifts: 
of the’ Cape of Good Hope, where it is known by the name of Fakals- 
Vogel (Jackal Bird) on account of the cry imitating the voice of that 
quadruped ; called alfo Rotter-Vanger (Rat-catcher); it is not fhy, 
being feen every where following the leffer kinds of vermin, as rats, 
moles, and the like, and like the Buzzard in Europe, is efteemed an 
ufeful fpecies; it is cowardly, infomuch, that even the Fifcal Shrike 
will occafionally put it to flight. 
Ic inhabits chiefly the thick groves which furround the houfes, 
and in the thickeft part of them makes the neft of twigs and mofs, » 
lined with feathers: lays three or four eggs, fometimes only two, 
which are generally hatched, as the neft is rarely deftroyed, from 
idea the natives entertain of the utility of this fpecies. 
Le Rougri, Levaill. Oif. i. p. 77. pl. 17. 
Bafe des deferts, Daud. Ora. ii. p. 162. cxxxiv. 
HIS is fmaller than the laft, and lefs robuft in proportion, but 
has a longer tail: the bill, cere, and legs are yellow: irides red- 
difh: the reigning colour of the plumage is ferruginous or rufous, 
paler beneath, with the chin to the breaft and vent very pale grey, 
nearly white; the quills are black ; the reft of the under parts are 
rufous as above, but paler, and ftreaked fparingly with dufky: the 
tail is like the back above, but greyifh beneath, marked with fome 
tranfverfe obfolete bands. 
The female is a trifle bigger than the male, and is lefs diftint in the » 
colours. 
Ig 
