CIRCUS MAURUS. 
Form. — Typical. Cervical collar moderately prominent. Bill much hooked ; 
nostrils rounded and coated with rigid bristles. Wings long, and when folded 
reach to the last third of the tail, the third and fourth quill feathers equal 
and longest, the second and fifth equal and about three-fourths of an inch 
shorter than the fifth, the first about two inches and a half shorter than the 
second. Tarsi long and strong, anteriorly scutellated, on the sides covered 
nith small polygonal scales, and behind by two rows of irregular plates. 
The outer toe connected to the middle one at the base by a distinct semicircular 
web. Claws much curved and pointed. 
DIMENSIONS. 
In. 
Lines. 
In. 
Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to 
Length of the tarsus 
2 
9 
the tip of the tail 
23 
0 
of the outer toe 
0 
11| 
of the bill from the angle of the 
of the middle toe 
1 
4 
mouth 
1 
4 
of the inner toe 
0 
9 
of the wings when folded 
14 
6 
of the hinder toe 
0 
n 
of the tail 
12 
0 
The male of like age is ma 
ked with 
similar colours. 
The bird, of which the foregoing is a description, was killed in the month of January, the 
last of the summer months in South Africa. The species occurs along both coasts of the 
colony, and the greatest number of specimens are observed in the vicinity of marshes or inland 
lakes. When they are seen they are generally flying languidly along near the surface of the 
ground or over the bush by which the country may be coated, and from time to time suddenly 
descending to the earth as if to capture some prey. When they are successful in accomplish- 
ing this, they either immediately rise with it in their talons, be it a mouse, frog, lizard, 
or bird ; or else, which is their more common practice, rest on the spot where the seizure is 
effected, until they have consumed whatever may be the article of food ; on that being com- 
pleted, they take again to the wing, and continue their circuit after the manner already 
described. This species generally constructs its nest in marshy situations, and places it either 
on the ground or low among the reeds which generally occur in such localities. It lays three 
or four eggs. 
t 
