during a journey to the Matabili Country. 
359 
Serpentarius secretaries (Scop.). 
I only met with this bird on two or three occasions in the 
Transvaal; and I saw one pair near the Limpopo. 
Circus ranivorus (Baud.). 
$ . Natal, May 21st, 1873. 
$ . Pietermaritzburg, April 22nd, 1873. 
Beak horn-colour; legs yellow; iris light yellow. The 
second female had the beak black; legs yellow; iris hazel. 
Common through Natal and the Transvaal in the open 
country, frequenting both marsh and high ground. Its flight 
and habits resemble those of our Hen-Harrier. There seems 
to be no difference in' the plumage of the sexes; at least I 
never saw a white male. 
Melierax canorus (Risl.). 
a, b, 6 } $. Transvaal, July 10th 1873. 
Cere, gape, and base of bill orange-red, the rest of the lat¬ 
ter black; feet orange-red; iris dark hazel. 
Very common in the low bushy parts of the Transvaal. I 
have seen them hunting quite late in the evening, flying low 
over the ground with a dashing sort of flight, when they have 
the appearance of a large male Circus cyaneus. One of the 
specimens I procured was very tame, allowing me to walk up 
and shoot it off a tree. 
Melierax garar (Baud.). 
6, adult. Transvaal, July 5th, 1873. 
Cere red, rest of beak black; legs orange-red; iris dark 
hazel. 
6, young. Transvaal, July 5th, 1873. 
Cere red, rest of beak black; legs orange-red; iris light 
$, in moult. Transvaal, November 29th, 1873. 
A common Hawk throughout the Transvaal after entering 
the bush-country. Its flight resembles that of Accipiter nisus. 
Melierax Niger (Bonn. & Vieill.). 
This bird I only saw twice—once on the Limpopo, and once 
in the Bamangwato district; on both occasions it was fly¬ 
ing with great swiftness. 
jfTir 
2.3 C 
