Our Birds of Prey. 119 
on the open bushy savannah lands, in which latter places 
also, the little kestrels (Tinnunculus) are most commonly 
to be found. 
With the exception of the sociable shell-eating kite 
(Rostrhamus) and the bultata or bush carrion crow 
(Ibycler), which are met with in large flocks — the former 
at times occurring in scores on the same bush, or passing 
in continuous flights, by the hundreds, along the savannah 
creeks, at sundown, to their roosting places — the hawks 
are met with either singly, as in the generality of species, 
or in small groups of from 2-12, as in the common 
harriers (Circus) , the chimachimas (Milvago) and the 
swallow-tails (Elanoides) , the last being seldom, if ever, 
seen perching, but circling gracefully in wide sweeps on 
the wing, and generally high up in the air. 
Many of these birds occur in the immediate vicinity of 
the town, being often seen about the cricket-ground, 
race-course, seawall, Botanic Gardens, rifle-range etc., 
and not infrequently flying overhead in the city (See 
" The native birds of Georgetown", Timehri, Vol. v., 
New Series, 1891, p. 69). Owing to their raids upon 
the young chickens in the poultry-yards, the commonest 
of these are known by the name of " chicken-hawk," but 
this term is applied to at least four species of four 
different genera. The hawks generally have no local 
common names ; and though a few bear such names as 
"pigeon-hawk," "crab-hawk," "snake-hawk," " baridi- 
hawk," etc, these terms are, in most cases, merely made 
use of by a few individuals ; and they are neither uni- 
formly applied, nor generally known. 
The food of the different species is of a most miscel- 
laneous character, ranging from mammals, birds, reptiles 
