within the limits of its range, the latter is very restricted, for it is
not known either to inhabit Natal or the Transvaal, as far as the
researches of the indefatigable Mr. Ayres have shewn. It occurs as
far north as the Orange river, whence a specimen collected by M.
Jules Verreaux is to be found in the Leiden Museum. Andersson
says :—“ I have observed this bird in Little Namaqua Land, but am
not aware that it is an inhabitant of Damara or Great Namaqua Land.”
It is generally seen in pairs, beating the bushes for prey and quartering
the ground with the regularity of a pointer-dog. After a few
heavy flaps with its wings, it sails along with its pinions elevated,
swaying to and fro like a clock pendulum ; suddenly it checks itself,
lets fall a leg, clutches up a cowering, lark or unsuspecting gerboa,
and flies away with it' to the nearest termite heap, on which it
perches and commences its repast. If accompanied by its mate, a
shrill stridulous cry soon brings it to its side, and the dainty morsel
is shared between them.
It breeds among reeds, making a thick heavy nest on' any elevated
root that may lift it above the water. The eggs are usually whitish,
rather rough, and three or four in number; they are also often
mottled and clouded with reddish brown.
At the Berg river we found many nests in September; they were
always on the ground in the marshes, unlike G. ranivorus which bred
high up on the rushes. We found white and coloured eggs in the
same nest, and observed that when the birds laid again after we had
robbed the nest the eggs were always whiter than at the first laying.
In size they agreed with those of G. ranivorus.
Mr. Henry Buckley writes of the eggs of this Harrier:—“ They
vary from l ’3 8 x l ‘34 inch to 1 ‘57 X 1‘5, and are of a bluish-white
colour, marked all over with small brown marks.”
General colour black, tinged with rufous; rump white; tail on
the upper side with four broad bars of grey, which below show white;
inside of wing more or less white, upper side grey; a few white
spots on the belly and flanks: cere of bill, legs, and irides bright
orange-yellow; claws black. Length, 20" ; wing, 13” 6'" ; tail, 9" 9"'.
Fig. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Aves. pi. 58.
12. C ircus? ranivorus . South African Marsh-Harrier.
This is a resident bird and is at present not known to extend its
range beyond the limits of the South African subregion. It is not,
however, found in the western portion, for Mr. Andersson says :—
“ I do not recollect to have met with this Harrier in Damara or
Great Namaqua Land : specimens wère collected in the Lake-country
by Mr. James Chapman.” It is nowhere very abundant in the
lower Zambesi country, according to Dr. Kirk, who observed it in
the Elephant Marsh on the Shirè Eiver. Mr. Ayres has procured it
in Natal and Transvaal. He writes:—“ A nestling sent to me in
January was stated to have been taken in- the swamp near Pptchef-
stroom.” Mr. Rickard has procured it at Port Elizabeth and East
London, and throughout the whole colony it may be considered
plentiful, frequenting marshy places. It feeds chiefly on frogs and
small aquatic birds, and sometimes fish. The nest is built amongst
rashes, and is made with the stalks and heaped-up leaves of water-
plants. Eggs three or four, of a dull white: axis, 1 ” 10'” ;
diam., 1” 6"'.
The marsh below the Observatory is a favourite breeding-place for
these birds, and several nests are annually made among the rushes.
We found it very abundant at Zoetendals Yley, and saw it even in the
dry Karroo country about Beaufort West.
At the Berg river it is very common, constructing a large nest of
flags and rushes on the bent down tops of the rushes which line the
river banks. On the 11th of September we took ten eggs all fresh
and unincubated; on returning to the nests a few days after we
again found many of them re-occupied.
Mr. Henry Buckley’s notes on thé eggs are as follows :—“ They
vary from 1 *76 x 1-42 inch, to 1’91 x 1:53, and are of a bluish-
white colour, faintly marked and stained with brown, which appear
chiefly nest stains.”
Adult.—All the upper parts of the body earthy-brown, that is, all
the visible parts of the feathers ; the hidden parts are white on
either side of the quill. Throat and cheeks thinly sprinkled with
whitish feathers, with a brown band ; lower parts clear-brown,
slightly mingléd with white. On the legs rusty red feathers, edged
and spotted with white ; wings brown, with transverse white bars
on the under sides. Tail rufous-brown, and banded. Length, 19";
wing, 15" ; tail, 9".
Young.—Neck, throat, and anterior part of breast deep-brown ;
lower parts reddish-brown ; shoulders in two shades of brown. Fore
part of neck and breast white, or reddish-white ; wings deep-brown,