white, blotched with the prevailing colour on the sides of the chest;
two large patches of the same are over the head of thigh-bone, the
thighs themselves being of the same colour, mottled with white.
Her length is 21^"; wing, 13" 9 '" ; tail, 12".
Fig. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pi. 18.
Sub-fam. BTJTEONINJE.
23. B u t io jak a l. Jackal Buzzard.
This Buzzard is very common throughout the colony, and its well-
marked colours are plainly distinguishable at a great distance; it is
therefore easily recognized.' Many specimens were procured by Yic-
torin at the Knysna,and Mr. Rickard tells us it is very plentiful both
at Bast London and Port Elizabeth. In Natal, according to Mr.
Ayres, it is shy, but not rare.” The following notes are from
Mr. Andersson’s book:—“ To the best of my belief this Buzzard
has never been observed in Damara Land; and it is scarce in Great
Namaqua Land, where, indeed, I have only occasionally seen it m
the southern parts, usually in the neighbourhood of rocks.” It has
not yet been found farther to the north either in the Zambesi
country or in Benguela. It appears to capture its prey more by
surprise and stealth than by hunting, sitting motionless on a bush,
or tree, till some unsuspecting Jerboa or Sand-rat (Bathyergus)
emerges from its hole, when down swoops the Buzzard, clutches the
victim in its claws and bears it away, to be devoured at leisure. It
is a heavy-flying bird, but sometimes ascends to great altitudes,
wheeling in vast circles, and uttering a shrill, stridulous cry. An
accomplished observer, whose name will often appear in these pages,
writes as follows: “ This bird, as you very justly observein your book,
is ‘ common throughout the colony.’ It frequents rocky or partially
wooded localities, and occurs always in pairs. It hunts by sight,
hovering over rocky or grassy vallies, and poising itself in the air for
a minute or two at a time, probably over some doubtful object, which
it will either leave or pounce down upon with the greatest rapidity,
or it will station itself upon some prominent rock or tree and there
motionless will watch for hours together, waiting for ‘ something
to turn up.’ The food of this Buzzard consists of rats, mice, reptiles
and insects, and some assert that it preys also upon birds, such
as the young of the partridge, pheasant, &c. but this I greatly doubt,
for a tame one in our possession refused to eat birds that had been
shot for it, and although the species is frequent around homesteads
it has never been known to plunder the hen-wife of her chickens,
or poultry of any description; but it destroys great numbers of
reptiles, such as lizards and snakes of various kinds, especially of the
last-named, for it will attack and kill the largest of our serpents. A
neighbour of ours (Mr. Joseph Wilmot), saw one of these birds
doing battle with a large snake. After watching this singular affray
for some time he went up to the spot to see what snake the bird was
fighting with, and found a large ‘ Ringtals/ quite ‘ hors de combat.’
Fearing that it might recover and creep away he dispatched it at
once. After some time had elapsed the bird returned and carried
the snake away to its nest on a neighbouring tree.”
“ The cry of this species is singularly like that of the common
Jackal (Oanis mesomelas) whence its name, and when its wings are
expanded shewing the light colour, together with the reddish-brown
breast-feathers, they greatly resemble the colours and markings of a
jackal’s skin; moreover this bird occupies just about the same position
in the tribe of rapacious birds as the jackal fills in that of rapacious
animals, and its name is therefore a most appropriate one.”
It builds in August or September on trees, or in thick, high
bushes. The nest is composed of small sticks and moss, thickly
lined with feathers and wool. Eggs two or three, rarely four, of a.
dirty white colour, coarse in texture, and very thickly spotted, at the
obtuse end in particular, with dry-blood-coloured blotches and stains.
Axis, 2" 5"; diam. 1" lO'"; specimens, however, vary much both
in size and colour. Mr. Henry Buckley writes:—“ The eggs are
white, handsomely marked, generally all over, with large brown
blotches. Those in my collection vary iij length from 2'32 to 2'44
inches, and in width from 1-82 to 1-96, the average being 2'39xl'92
inches.”
Its chief hues are red and brown-black, the latter preponderating on
the head, neck, and mantle. The throat is enlivened by white, which
gradually deepens to rust-red on the breast. Under-wing feathers
nearly white; under tail coverts black, mingled with red; tail feathers
deep red, each with a black spot towards the tip. Bill, cere, and legs
yellow, irides ochreous grey. Length, V 8"; wing, 15" 8"'-
tail, 9" 3 " \ *
Levaill. Ois. d’Afr. pi. 16.