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that it was once or twice observed in the thickets near the Jordan, and once in the north near 

 Shef Amar. 



In North-east Africa it is common, and remains to breed. Mr. E. C. Taylor says that he 

 found it very abundant all the way from Cairo to Assouan ; and Captain Shelley writes (B. of 

 Egypt, p. 198) that it is resident in Egypt, and is extremely abundant as far south as Thebes, 

 beyond which place and in Nubia its numbers are much more limited. Von Heuglin met with 

 it at Kordofan, and likewise records it from the Bogos country ; and Dr. A. E. Brehm observed 

 it at Sudan, where, however, it is rare. In North-west Africa it has been recorded from Algeria 

 by Malherbe ; and Mr. Taczanowski, who observed it there, writes as follows : — " It was observed 

 singly on the coast between Philippeville and Bone in December. Like the Hen-Harrier, it is 

 fond of flying over the fields, though usually at a greater altitude. It often perches on the tops 

 of detached trees and on the telegraph-posts. In the interior I did not see a single individual 

 during the season." Mr. O. Salvin writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 184) that he observed it on two occasions 

 in the Atlas country, near where the Chemora empties itself into the Lake of Djendeli. 



It was first described by Desfontaines from Barbary ; and Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt-Drake says 

 (Hois, 1867, p. 424) that he shot one at Tangier and a second at Tetuan. He saw a few others, 

 and says that it breeds on the mountains west of Tetuan. Colonel Irby writes that, according to 

 Favier, it is " scarce in the vicinity of Tangier, being seldom seen, and then in very limited 

 numbers in February and March, and again during September and October. They are more 

 common near Larache, where some are found breeding in April." Colonel Irby himself found it 

 " common near Tetuan in April, as well as about Cape Negro ; around Tangier at that time I 

 only saw two." Dr. A. Beichenow states (J. f. O. 1873, p. 213) that it has been shot at Accra, 

 on the Gold Coast; and Messrs. Shelley and Buckley also say (Ibis, 1872, p. 290) that they once 

 observed it there. It has been recorded from the Gaboon and Gambia; and Mr. Andersson 

 writes (B. of Damara Land, p. 20) as follows: — "This is a rare bird in Damara Land, and is only 

 found about the estuaries of some of the large periodical watercourses ; but it is not uncommon 

 at Lake Ngami and its watersheds. It is invariably seen either singly or in pairs, and is usually 

 difficult to approach on account of its watchful habits and from its perching on the tops of trees 

 or lofty bushes. A pair observed in Ondonga were heard to whistle to each other as they flew 

 from tree to tree." Mr. E. L. Layard, who met with it in South Africa, writes (B. of S. Africa, 

 p. 27), " it is migratory, appearing about Capetown in the month of May. I have never heard 

 of its nesting in this country. To a certain extent this species is gregarious. I counted nine 

 roosting in one tree at Erste Biver, and several more were flying about close by. I fancy they 

 had been attracted by an exodus of white ants, which had taken place that afternoon." Subse- 

 quently, however, to writing the above, Mr. Layard found it breeding at Berg Biver, where he 

 obtained a number of its eggs, twelve of which he gave to me. Levaillant records it from 

 Caffraria; and Mr. Ayres, who states that it is rare in Natal, adds (Ibis, 1859, p. 240) that " the 

 Caffres assert that it chases Pigeons and catches them on the wing, This bird is frequently 

 unsteady in its flight ; and its appearance then much resembles that of a small Sea-Gull. It takes 

 its prey (which consists principally of rats) much in the same way as Tinnunculus rupicolus, 

 They are generally to be found in the open country, alighting on the tops of low trees scattered 

 over the 'Veldt.' " Dr. J. Kirk states (Ibis, 1864, p. 316) that it is very common both on the 



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