AFES. 291 



9. Melierax polyzonus, Eiipp. 



Falco (Nisus) polyzonus, Eiipp. Neu. Wirb. p. 36, taf. 15, fig. 1. 



Melierax polyzonus, Eiipp. Syst. Uebers. No. 43. 



Nisus polyxonus, Fer. et Gall. No. 7. 



Melierax musicus, Lefebvre, p. 70. 



Astur polyzonus, Heugl. Orn. N. 0. Afr. No. 39. 



It is darkisli brown, orbit dull yellow, cere and legs 

 bright orange, claws dusky, base of bill orange, passing 

 into flesh colour, tip dusky. 



Common on the sea-coast and in Habab up to . about 

 3,000 feet elevation, but not seen in the Anseba valley, 

 or at any high elevation, and appears chiefly restricted 

 to the tropical zone. Heuglin, however, states that he 

 has met with it at greater heights. It is usually seen 

 perched on a tree, less frequently on the ground, its 

 food being reptiles and insects. Its flight is very 

 buzzard-like and not swift, and it generally settles 

 again after flying a short distance. 



10. Nisus tachiro, Daud. 



. Falco tachiro, Daud. Traits Comp. d'Ornith. ii. 90. 



F. (Astur) unduliventer, Eiipp. Neu. Wirb. p. 40, t. 18, fig. 1. 

 Nisus unduliventer, Eiipp. Syst. Uebers. No. 42. — Heugl. Om. 

 N. 0. Afr. No. 43. 



Iris yellow ; skin round eyes, cere, gape, and legs also 

 bright yeUow. Both M. Jules Verreaux and Mr. Gurney, 

 two of the best authorities on South African Eaptores, 

 consider the only specimen which. I obtained of this 

 bird as identical with N. tachiro. My single skin is 

 that of a very old male in superb plumage. All the 

 upper parts are dusky with a slaty tinge, tail dusky 



u 2 



