152 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



poultry ; it is almost identical with the European 

 peregrine. Another falcon, which I took to be 

 Falco biarmicus, but whose colonial name I never 

 heard, was also seen occasionally. In our valley, 

 not very far from the farmhouse, there was a large 

 grove of mimosa trees, down near the bed of a 

 periodical stream, and amongst these mimosas there 

 were hundreds of turtle doves. Upon these hapless 

 doves the two falcons I have named, as well 

 as others of the raptores, did great execution, 

 scattering every now and again the poor wretches 

 with sudden swoop. 



The smaller falcons were not uncommon. The 

 hobby {Hypotriorchis subbuteo), with its bluish grey 

 back, was sometimes observed, as also was the rooi 

 valk (red hawk — Tinnunctdus ruficolus), a pretty little 

 falcon, resembling our own kestrel, very frequently 

 to be seen hovering in mid-air, watching intently for 

 birds, rats, mice, and other small game. Seen in 

 flight, this bird looks as its name implies, principally 

 rufous in colour, but the head, neck, and tail are of 

 a bluish grey. 



Of the kites, I believe only two have been 

 properly recognised in the Cape Colony. I saw 

 one near Naroekas on two different days, which I 

 took to be Milvus parasiticus, but these birds are 

 not frequently seen, so far as I could learn. 



Of the hawks, one of the commonest and yet 

 most interesting was the blue hawk, sometimes 

 called the chanting falcon, the blaauw valk of the 

 Dutch {Melierax mtisicus). This interesting bird 

 has been surrounded by Le Vaillant with a 

 somewhat fictitious glamour. He tells us that it 

 sings regularly night and morning — and even in 



