Our Birds of Prey. 135 
considered distinct, are but varying sizes and stages of 
one and the same species. 
In the young specimens of these birds, the colour is of 
a dark brown above, varied with yellowish edges to the 
feathers — the head and neck and under surface being 
yellowish ochre, streaked, spotted or barred with black. 
The base of the tail and the tail coverts at all ages vary 
from white to creamy white and grey. 
As already mentioned, these birds are chiefly restricted 
to a molluscan diet ; and at times, at the edges of 
the creeks, swamps and savannah pools, piles of 
empty shells left by these hawks may be found at the 
foot of some low bush or stump on which the birds had 
perched while feeding. Along the savannah creeks, 
and especially along the Abary districts, these birds 
are extremely plentiful ; and at sundown they will be 
found perched in masses at special roosting places 
on the low bushes by the creek side, or they will be seen 
passing overhead, seeking shelter for the night, in con- 
tinuous flights of some hundreds at a time, made up of 
young and adult birds of both sexes. While settling 
down to roost by the creek side, they will be noticed 
darting down and skimming for short distances almost on 
the surface of the water, as though catching insects, or 
splashing themselves, breast, wings and tail, with the 
water itself, while uttering low and peculiar shriek- 
like cries. If at such times they are disturbed, they 
wheel backwards and forwards in the dull light, 
close over the surface of the water, eventually to 
settle down on the same perches or on closely 
adjacent trees. As a rule they are extremely fat and 
fleshy, and by many of the negroes are esteemed as 
