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Show 146 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF ANGOLA. [MAR. 10, PSITTACULA ROSEICOLLIS. Psittacula roseicollis (Vieill.); Mont. P. Z.S. 1865, p. 94; Finsch, Papag. ii. p. 640. Ayapornis roseicollis, Boc. Jorn. Acad. Lisb. i. p. 336. Male. October 30, 1868. Eye red ; beak pale green ; feet pale lilac-colour. GYPOHIERAX ANGOLENSIS. Gypohierax angolensis (Gm.) ; Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 1. Female. December 10th, 1868. Eye yellow; bill very pale green; feet greyish. Knowing that Mr. J. G. Keulemans had observed this bird during his residence in the Cape-Verd Islands, I applied to him for a note on its habits ; and I have much pleasure in subjoining the details which he kindly forwarded to me. " This is one of the most abundant birds of prey in the Cape- Verd Islands. It is chiefly seen in those islands where there is but little vegetation, and seems to prefer rocky ground and bare mountains for its habitation. These birds are always found in company, groups of six to fifteen in number being ordinarily seen together. From daybreak to sunset, troups are seen flying at different elevations, circling round and round for hours without moving their wings. Their flight is Vulture-like; and I always observed that when five or more individuals were circling in the air, another body was seen flying about a hundred feet above them ; still higher another flock was observed, and so on until the highest flocks were but faint white specks in the distance. When on the ground they walk, but when in a hurry hop like a Magpie. They sometimes sit, half sleeping, on a bare rock or on the ground, but on the least alarm they fly up suddenly and go a long way before they settle. " The continual persecution and destruction of these birds by the inhabitants has made them exceedingly shy and suspicious, so that it is very difficult to approach them ; early in the morning, however, I sometimes managed to get near them. The best way to shoot them is when they fly near the ground, which they sometimes do when in pursuit of rats or mice. The sexes seem to be alike in coloration; but I believe the females are larger than the males, as I always observed some little difference in the size of the birds. " Young birds are brown, some of them irregularly spotted with white, probably when moulting or changing their plumage. I once received a young bird in the down; it was of a dirty white colour, but the bill, legs, and iris were like the old birds. In the adult the colour of the bill is bluish, with a yellowish-pink cere and nostrils ; legs dirty pink and irides pure white. On one of the rocks to the north of the island of St. Vincent there has been a nest for several years; this rock is nearly 80 feet high, and when seen from a distance it has the appearance of a man sitting, whence it is called by the inhabitants ' John Look-out' ! " On John's Head is the nest of Gypohierax angolensis ; and this is |