from the colony of Natal in South-eastern Africa. 239 
previously wounded, and are often seen inland many miles from 
the coast, where they feed with the Vultures on the carcases of 
cattle, carrying away large lumps of flesh, and eating them on 
some adjacent tree. They soar to a tremendous height, utter¬ 
ing a very shrill piercing cry, which may be heard at a great 
distance; and will sit for hours on the dead branch of a tree near 
the water, waiting for the tide to recede far enough to enable 
them to take their prey; they also frequently alight on the 
water like gulls, and remain for a length of time on it; but I 
cannot say whether they are expert swimmers or not. 
[The immature birds of Haliaetus vocifer differ considerably 
in the colouring of their plumage and in the disposition of its 
markings. I believe that it is a young male of this species 
which is figured and described in Le Variant's 1 Oiseaux 
d'Afrique/ No. 5, under the title of “ Le Blagref and that it 
is an error to quote “ Le Blagre of Le Vaillant” as a synonym 
of Haliaetus leucogaster, to which it is by some authors referred. 
—J.H.G.] 
13. Pandion haliaetus (Linn.). Osprey. 
These birds frequent the salt-water lakes along the coast; they 
alight on trees near the water, and will also frequently settle on 
the sands when the tide is down, and remain in the same spot 
for an hour or two. They generally hover two or three seconds 
over a fish before they plunge into the water after it, and very 
frequently miss their aim. When they have caught a fish, they fly 
to a tree to eat it at leisure. They are very shy birds, and difficult 
to obtain. Iris light yellow; legs bluish slate-colour. 
14. Milvus parasitus (Daud.). White-billed Kite. 
Common and bold. They take our chickens, feed also on 
rats or any carrion; and I have sometimes found insects in their 
stomachs. 
These Kites seem to have a very acute sense of smell; for they 
invariably appear with or before the Vultures, to feed on any ox 
that may have died, and will (when afraid to settle, in con¬ 
sequence of the ravens or other birds) dart down and tear off 
pieces of flesh with their talons, and devour them whilst flying, 
after which they will return and take more in a similar manner, 
