A fine female is more rufous-brown in tbe general appearance,
and is much mottled on the breast and belly, the latter character
being in both sexes of this species a mark of immaturity.
52. F alco sttbbuteo. Hobby.
The Hobby appears to be only a winter visitant in Southern
Africa. Several specimens of this Hawk have been received from
that locality, viz.:—a fine female from Swellendam; a pair, from Mr.
Jackson, at Nel’s Poort; one male purchased in the flesh in Cape
Town. A rich-coloured male also fell to our own gun on Cape
Flats; and Mr. Atmore has procured it near Blanco.
It also occurs in Natal, as a specimen in the British Museum from
that country is the Falco cuvi&ri of Mr. Gray’s “ Hand-list.” Mr.
Andersson states that it occasionally makes its appearance in
Damara Land during the rainy season, and, as Mr. Gurney adds, it
appears to occur in Ovampo Land as well as in Damara Land, a
specimen from Ondonga being comprised in Mr. Andersson’s last
collection,
Senor Anchieta has procured it at Gambos in Mossamedes.
Head and upper parts of neck dark blue-grey; rest of upper parts
pale-blue. Shafts of all the feathers black; over each eye a narrow
rufous-white stripe; below each eye a black crescent. Sides of neck,
throat, breast, and belly tawny-white. On the two last parts are
many black blotches. Under tail-coverts and thighs rufous. Outer
vanes of wings hoary-blue; inner vanes dull-brown, crossed with
white bars. All margined and tipped with white. Tail slightly
rounded, the two central feathers blue-grey only; the others blue-
grey, banded with pale rufous, and tipped with white. Length, 14
inches; wing, 10" 9"'; tail, 6" 2".
Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. Fur. part iv. '
63. F alco cu v iiir i, African Hobby.
This rare species is entirely confined to Africa, but it is only
known from the Gold Coast and from the Oape Colony, in both of
which plaoes it appears to be somewhat scarce. Sir A. Smith, who
described it, states that the typical specimen was obtained in Caffer-
land near to the Kai River, where it was said to be not unfrequent.
It has been more than once received in Europe from South Africa,