195 
of the Lydenburg District. 
of the neck in the bird's strong beak, the foot still remaining 
firm, and then swallowed. My two birds were very stupid: one 
was killed by being squeezed to death by a pig; and the other 
had its leg broken by a waggon. Their note is very similar 
to that of the young Stanley Crane. The eggs, which are two 
in number, are of a dull white, dotted with light brown at 
the obtuse ends. 
3. Circus pygargus. 
I received this bird from the district of Lydenburg. I have 
never, to my knowledge, seen them in any quantity. 
4. Circus macrurus. 
This I also received from near Lydenburg, where they fre¬ 
quent the swampy ground, and, I am informed, feed on small 
quadrupeds, snakes, &c. 
5. Melierax gabar. 
Two specimens were sent to me from Marico; and I have 
seen the species near Potchefstroom. My man brought me 
one from near Pretoria, which he said he had shot while it 
was in the act of whistling. I shot two young birds off a 
nest near the Modder river. On examining the nest I found 
it to contain the limbs of a species of lizard, of a field-mouse, 
and various bones of little animals which I could not de¬ 
termine. 
6. Astur polyzonoides. 
I shot one of these on a bush near the Yaal, and another 
between Potchefstroom and Rustenberg. I also received one 
specimen from near Marico. 
7 . Buteo jackal. 
The well-known shrill note of this species is to be heard at 
almost any time. It is a heavy-flying bird, but rather diffi¬ 
cult to kill, being well feathered. I shot one near Bloemfon¬ 
tein, on our farm, where, I was told, it had been for some 
time. I have observed it near the Drakenberg mountains; 
and I received a specimen from Lydenburg. The latter is 
smaller than the ordinary Buzzard of the Colony. 
