CIRCUS MAURUS.
F orm.—Typical. Cervical collar moderately prominent. Bill much hooked ;
nostrils rounded and coated with rigid bristles. Wings long, and when folded
leach to the last third of the tail, the third and fourth quill feathers equal
and longest, the second and fifth equal and about three-fourths of an inch
shorter than the fifth, the first about two inches and a half shorter than the
second. Tarsi long and strong, anteriorly scutellated, on the sides covered
with small polygonal scales, and behind by two rows of irregular plates.
The outer toe connected to the middle one at the base by a distinct semicircular
web. Claws much curved and pointed.
DIMENSIONS.
In. Lines. In . T.infis.
Length from the point of the bill to Length of the tarsus .............. ............ 2 9
the tip of the t a i l ......................... 2 3 0 of the outer to e ............. ...... 0 ll£
of the bill from the angle of the of the middle to e .......... ..... 1 4
mouth ................. ................ nf fhp 1TIT1PT fnp
of the wings when folded........ 1 4 e of the hinder toe............. ...... 0 7 i
of the tail..................... 1 2 o '
The male of like age is marked with similar colours.
The bird, of which the foregoing is a description, was killed in the month of January, the
last of the summer months in South Africa. The species occurs along both coasts of the
colony, and the greatest number of specimens are observed in the vicinity of marshes or inland
lakes. When they are seen they are generally flying languidly along near the surface of the
ground or over the bush by which the country may be coated, and from time to time suddenly
descending to the earth as if to capture some prey. When they are successful in accomplishing
this, they either immediately rise with it in their talons* be J t a mouse, frog, lizard,
or bird ; or else, which is their more common practice, rest on the spot where the seizure is
effected, until they have consumed whatever may be the article of food ; on that being completed,
they take again to the wing, and continue their circuit after the manner already
described. This species generally constructs its nest in marshy situations, and places it either
on the ground or low among the reeds which generally occur in such localities. It lays three
or four eggs.