298 Report on a Zoological collection [No. 4. 



assembled for that purpose." Many animals resort habitually to 

 one place to deposit their dung : among them the Indian Ehino- 

 ceros, which in the Eajmahal hills is watched for and shot by the 

 natives at such places ; and we have observed the Indian Four- 

 horned Antelope to exhibit the same propensity, when tame and 

 loose in a large enclosure. 



*Oreotragtjs saltatrix ; Antilope oreotragus, Forster : A. sal- 

 tatrix, Boddaert. The ' Klip-springer' of the Cape colonists. Head 

 of female, and one fore-foot. '* A kind of Antelope called Alakrut, 

 OyOfl. They live in the higher ranges of the mountains, only in 

 pairs, and are not unlike the Musk-Deer in coat. They are by no 

 means shy, seldom flying before the foot-fall is heard. They hop 

 in an awkward manner on the points of the hoof, at no great pace 

 or distance at a time. The people of the country prize the venison.'* 



AYES. 



Pceocephalijs rufiventris, (Euppell). "The only species of 

 Parrot observed in the Somali country. These birds fly in consider- 

 able numbers ; and they have red irides." 



*Helotarsus ecaudatus, (Daudin) : Bateleur of Levaillant. 

 " Called JVabodi, cf^J. There are many superstitions about this bird, 

 and its shadow is supposed to be injurious to children. This may 

 be accounted for by the habit it has of swooping down upon any 

 one carrying meat. It devours the small Antelopes and birds, and 

 generally soars high, but I have seen it wheeling close overhead. 

 The female lays one egg in a large loose nest of sticks on the top 

 of tall trees, and if the egg be taken she abandons her home. 

 Irides red." 



# Melierax polyzontjs, Eiippell. " A kind of red-eyed Sparrow- 

 hawk, very swift. The people call it Hatkaadag, <Jy&l&." 



# Bubo (?) africanus, (L.), Temmink, p. c. 50. Called Shimir 

 libah, &bJj+»9 } the " Lion-bird." This is probably the species so 

 identified by Eiippell, though not well according with the descrip- 

 tions to which we have access. Size of ordinary Asio (v. Otus), 

 but the auditory aperture as in Bubo. Length about 16 in. ; of 

 wing 12 in. ; and tail 7 in. Colour rufous-brown above, speckled 

 and variegated with dull black, and some oval white spots bordering 



