KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDUNGAR. BAND 47. N:o 5. 55 



Neophron percnopterus (L.). 



Rchw. [, p. 521. 



This species was not at all common in the country through whicli the expedition 

 passed, and I did not see but very few speeimens. One was shot al Guaso Nyiri a couplc 

 of days mareh down the river from the förd on the Marsabit road. It was the only spe- 

 cimen of its kind among a great number of N. monachus ( = pileatus auct. ). Once or twice 

 I observed some single speeimens at other opportunities but it was certainly very rare 

 compared with its congener. 



Neophron monachus (Tem.). 



Rchw. I, p. 522. 



Very common as well in the steppe-country south of Guaso Nyiri as in the thorn- 

 bush north of the same river, collecting in great numbers round camps and killed game. 

 It is by far not so shy as the big Vultures, and would sometimes let a man walk under the 

 dou m-palm in whicli it was resting without flying away. 



FaleonicUe. 



Serpentarius serpentarius (Miller). 



Rchw. I, p. 528. 



The first time I saw the Secretary bird was on the steppe near Mc Naughtons farm 

 south of Nairobi, and when it observed me it ran away with long strides. The second 

 time I saw this interesting bird was on the steppe at Ju ja farm, and the third and last 

 time on an open plain north of Guaso Nyiri just east of the road to Marsabit. Always 

 the birds were single. As I did not shoot any I could not ascertain whether they represen- 

 ted the northern race or not. 



Polyboroides typicus (A. Sn.). 



Rchw. I, p. 531. 



This easily recognizable bird was seen almost daily in the thornbush country north 

 of Guaso Nyiri below Chanler Falls. It never admitted me to come within shooting range. 

 Perching in the top of some acacia it at once detected the stalking hunter who had no cover 

 among the leaveless bushes. As soon as the distance appeared to be unsafely short the 

 bird moved off to another acacia a few hundred metres distant. And this maneuvre could 

 be repeated 5 — 6 times till the Polyboroides got tired of the play, and flew off for good. 



Circus pygargus (L.). 



Rchw. I, p. 534. 



I did not shoot but one specimen of this species, and that happened in the thornbush- 

 country at Njoro 20 /2 1911. 



