f554 falconidje 



ASTUR 



breast marked with brown stripes most conspicuous on the breast ; 

 the throat with a single median stripe, otherwise unspotted. 



Iris dusky brown ; bill black ; cere yellowish-green ; feet pale 

 yellow. 



The entirely black phase is comparatively rare, most apparently 

 adult specimens of this species having more or less white on the 

 under surface. 



Distribution. — The Black Sparrow Hawk is rare and has a 

 restricted distribution in South Africa having been found hitherto 

 only in the southern half of the Colony and in Natal. Beyond our 

 limits it is recorded from Nyasaland, German east Africa, north- 

 east and west Africa, but appears to be nowhere common. 



According to Ayres this Hawk is common in the summer months 

 in Natal and is probably therefore a migrant. 



The following are localities : Cape Colony — Cape and Bedford 

 divisions (Smith), George, Beaufort West and Albany (Layard), 

 Knysna (Victorin and Marais) ; Natal — Maritzburg (Ayres). 



Habits. — These birds are only found in wooded districts and 

 appear to be everywhere rare. They are very bold in hunting their 

 prey ; they pursue pigeons and attack poultry ; they are often so 

 intent upon the chase that neither shouting or guns will deter them, 

 though naturally exceedingly shy. Mr. Ayres on one occasion lost 

 three hens, five chickens, seven ducklings, and a gosling within a 

 short space of time before he was able to secure the marauder. Mr. 

 Atmore states that he once found a nest built in a large tree which 

 contained three young birds and an egg just about to be hatched. 



Genus XXI. ASTUR. 



Type. 

 Astuv, Lacep. Mem. de I'Inst. iii, Tp. 505 {1801) ... A. palumbarius. 



Bill rather small but strong, margin of the upper mandible with 

 a very distinct festoon ; nostrils oval without any trace of the bony 

 tubercle present in Melierax; wings rather short hardly reaching 

 the middle of the tail ; tarsus long, stout, and scutellate in front and 

 behind, reticulate on the sides and below at the distal end ; middle 

 toe comparatively short, without claw equal to or less than twice 

 the length of the culmen without cere. 



This genus is widely spread over the greater part of the world 

 except South America ; two only out of tbe ten African species are 

 found within our Hmits, 



