376 FALCONID^ CIRCUS 



Length in flesh 19-75 ; wing 15-0 ; tail 9-4 ; tarsus 3-20 ; 

 culmen 1"35. 



The female is very similar to the male, but rather more streaked 

 on the abdomen and thighs, which are not so rufous. 



Iris tawny yellow ; wing 15-60 ; tarsus 3-45. 



A young bird in the South African Museum is very dark brown 

 variegated with pale rufous and white on the back of the neck and 

 upper back ; the forehead and a ring round the eye are dirty white, 

 and the ear-coverts dark brown ; below, the throat and the middle 

 of the breast are white, the rest of the under-surface dark brown 

 inclining to rufous on the thighs and lower abdomen ; the tail 

 is uniform dark brown, or black above and ashy-brown below, 

 slightly tipped with rufous-brown. 



Iris dusky brown (Ayres). 



In all stages of plumage the fifth primary is emarginated. 



Distribution. — This is doubtless the commonest of the South 

 African Harriers throughout the Colony, Natal, the southern Trans- 

 vaal and Bechuanaland, but it appears to become rarer north of 

 the Limpopo, at least it has not hitherto been noticed in German 

 south-west Africa or Rhodesia. North of the Zambesi it is recorded 

 by Anchieta from southern Angola, by Kirk from the Shir6 river, 

 and by Eeichenow from German east Africa, but in each case only 

 single specimens appear to have been procured. 



The following are the more important localities : Cape Colony — 

 Cape div., Caledon, George (S. A. Museum), Beaufort West 

 (Layard), Aliwal North (Wood), Port Elizabeth and East London 

 (Rickard) ; Natal — Durban (Shelley), Maritzburg (Buckley), and 

 Newcastle (Butler) ; Transvaal — Near Pretoria (Gates), Potchef- 

 stroom (Holub) ; Lake Ngami country (Chapman apud Layard). 



Habits. — This Harrier is a resident throughout the year in South 

 Africa. Like its congeners it is usually seen in marshy spots or 

 along rivers, though occasionally it may be met with in open, dry, 

 upland country. It hunts over one spot, keeping close to the 

 ground with a laboured and heavy flight, though remaining on 

 the wing for many hours at a time and only alighting to take 

 and devour its prey; this consists of frogs, rats, and aquatic 

 birds, such as young or wounded snipe, of which it appears to be 

 specially fond. 



The nest is built in September or October in the reeds at the 

 edge of a marsh or river, and three to four chalky-white eggs with 

 a bluish tinge, measuring about 2-0 x 1-5, are laid. 



