FALCONIBM. 29 



36. Melierax niger (Vieill.). African Black Hawk. 



Bparmus niger, Vieillot's Gal. des Ois. pi. 22. 



Accipiter niger, Strickland & Sclater, Birds Damar., Oontr. to Om. 



1852, p. 142. 

 Melierax niger, Layard's Cat. No. 45. 

 Nisus niger, Finscli & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, p. 88. 



This rather scarce Hawk is usually met with either 

 singly or in pairs. I do not recollect having seen it in 

 Great Namaqua Land ; but it is found to the north as 

 far as the Okavango and eastward to the lake, though 

 nowhere numerous. It is not particularly shy ; its food 

 consists of small birds, mice, &c. 



The irides are cherry-colour; the base of the bill 

 yellowish red, the tips of the mandibles black ; the legs 

 and toes vermilion, with the scutellated parts yellowish. 



Measurements of a male and a female : — 



Entire length 12 9 



Length of folded wing . 



„ tarsus . . . 



„ middle toe . . 



„ tail .... 



„ biU . . . . 



37. Accipiter tachiro (Daud.). Tachiro Sparrow-Hawk. 



Fako tachiro, Temminck's PL Col. pi. 877 & 420. 



Accipiter tachiro, Gumey, Birds Damar., Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, 



p. 2. 

 Accipiter polyzanoides, Andersson in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 4. 

 Accipiter tachiro, Layard's Oat. No. 40. 

 Nisus tachiro, Finscli & Hartlaub, Vbgel Ost-Afrika's, p. 78. 



I only obtained two or three specimens of this Hawk, 

 which is very rare in Damara Land. 



