135 
from the colony of Natal. 
144. Pelecanus mitratus, Licht. Mitred Pelican. 
[This species and the two preceding were sent to Mr. Stevens 
by Mr. Gneinzius.—J. H. G.] 
145. Pelecanus rufescens (Gmel.). Pink-backed Pelican. 
Male. Bill pale; tip of the bill bright orange; pouch, legs 
and feet greenish yellow. These birds frequent the bay and the 
mouths of the rivers on the coast; their food, I believe, consists 
entirely of fish. They appear to feed in the evening and early in 
the morning, basking in the sun during the day. They are gre¬ 
garious, and may be seen in flights of from three to thirty, which 
occasionally come inland. In such cases, although I have seen 
them wheeling round and round close to the ground, I have not 
seem them alight, but have watched them until out of sight. 
In their flight they generally form the letter V, similarly to the 
Geese, &c. They are to be found here all the year round more 
or less, frequenting the most retired parts of the bay, and are 
exceedingly shy and wary. The bird now sent, when shot, was 
only pinioned, and falling into the water, gave me a long chase. 
It swam with such swiftness, that by the time I got into my 
boat it had three hundred yards* start. There being a strong 
head wind blowing at the time, I had the greatest difficulty in 
overtaking it, and rowed more than a mile before I was near 
enough to give the bird a second shot, which put an end to its 
existence. These Pelicans soar to an immense height, wheeling 
round and round, especially when coming from a distance. 
They appear to examine the waters well before they alight, and 
settle far out of gunshot of any cover there may be. 
I may, in conclusion, here insert the following additional 
note, which I have received from Mr. Ayres, on 
Astur melanoleucus (Smith). Black and White Goshawk. 
“ A few days since, I shot a very fine immature specimen of 
Astur melanoleucus , which had carried away successively three of 
my full-grown hens, of the ordinary size, seven ducklings about 
one-third grown, four or five good-sized chickens, and one gos¬ 
ling as large as a full-grown fowl. Yet so cunning was this 
bird, that it committed all this havoc before I could get a single 
