; FOR THE PEOPLE 1 FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY SKETCHES OF SOUTH AFRICAN BIRD-LIFE (Rj^rftJ* *y.. ^^n SKETCHES OF SOUTH AFRICAN BIRD-LIFE BY ALWIN HAAGNER, D.Sc, F.Z.S. COLONIAL MEMBER, BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION; HON. FELLOW, AMERII \\ ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION; HON. MEM ROYAL HUNGARIAN BUREAU OF ORNITHOLOGY; LATE HON. SEC., SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION; JOINT EDIToK, "SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL 01 NATURAL HISTORY"; VICE-PRESIDENT, SOUTH AFRICAN BIOLOGK U. SO< 1 1 IV AND ROBERT H. IVY, F.Z.S. MEMBER, SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION Third and Revised Edition ILLUSTRATED BY THE CAMERA T. MASKEW MILLER CAPE TOWN [Copyright] Printed in Great Britain by William Clowes & Sons, Limited, London and Beccles. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION It has been found necessary to make a few alterations in the scientific names of some of the birds in accordance with recent discoveries, and some additional species have been added to those already described in the second edition ; we have also added another ten illustrations. We are indebted to His Worship Cr. C. W. Giovanetti (Mayor of Pretoria) for the gift of the picture illustrating the Black Vulture, the work of his late son (Lieut. Giovanetti, E.A.R), who made the supreme sacrifice during the Great War. To the public of South Africa who have been good enough to make a third edition necessary, we tender our thanks. A. K. HAAGNEE. E. H. IVY. National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria. INTRODUCTION Every one knows what a bird is ! Whether it be an Ostrich, a Canary, or a Barn-yard Fowl, we immediately distinguish it as a bird by its covering of feathers, if by nothing else. Birds form a separate "class" of the Verte- brate Sub-kingdom of animals, and agree with the mammals in possessing a four-chambered heart and hot blood. In addition to their covering of feathers they are characterised by the fact that they produce their young from eggs laid by the female (a point that is however shared by most reptiles, and by several of the lower mammals), and that the fore- limbs, in the shape of wings, are usually adapted for flight. Their bones are moreover usually rendered lighter by being partly hollow and filled with air ; in addition they have a number of "air-sacs" within their bodies which are also of assistance in flight. Lastly, all modern birds are toothless, at least as far as actual or true teeth are concerned. The majority of the members of the avian world are notable for their graceful form, and their power of being able to transport themselves through space with ease and rapidity, a fact which enables them to travel enormous distances. Birds are, comparatively speaking, perhaps better known and have attracted more notice than any other group of animals, the beauty of the plumage of many of them, the gift of sweet song with which others are endowed, their economic value which is only now meeting with anything like the recognition it deserves, have all tended to bring this about. Birds form the great division or " class " of animals termed "Aves," which class is divided into "families," these again into "genera," and the last into "species." ix b X INTRODUCTION They are divided by Dr. P. L. Sclater, F.K.S., &c, in a paper in the " Ibis " for 1880, " On the Present State of the Systema Avium." into the following groups or orders : — Class Aves. Sub-class Carinatce (with a keeled sternum). Order 1. Passeres (Crows, Starlings, Weaver-Birds, Finches, Larks, Sunbirds, Shrikes, Warblers, Thrushes, Fly-catchers. Cuckoo-Shrikes, Drongos and Swallows). „ 2. Picarl^ (Woodpeckers, Barbets, Honey-guides, Trogons, Colies, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Kollers, Hornbills, Hoopoes, Swifts, Nightjars, Cuckoos and Plaintain-eaters). 3. Psittaci (Parrots). 4. Striges (Owls). 5. Accipitres (Falcons, Kites, Buzzards, Eagles, Hawks, Vultures and Secretary-Bird). 6. Steganopodes (Frigate-Birds, Pelicans, Cor- morants, Darters, Gannets and Tropic Birds). 7. Herodiones (Herons, Storks and Ibises). 8. Odontoglossje (Flamingoes). 9. Anseres (Geese and Ducks). 10. Columb.e (Pigeons and Doves). 11. Pterocletes (Sand Grouse). 12. Gallinje (Game-Birds, Guinea-Fowl, Francolin, Quail). 13. Hemipodii (Three-toed or Button- quails). 14. Fulicari^e (Coots, Moorhens, Kails and Finfoot). 15. Alectorides (Cranes and Bustards). 16. Limicol^e (Thickheads, Coursers, Plovers, Sand- pipers, Snipe and Jacanas). 17. Gavle (Skuas, Gulls and Terns). INTRODUCTION XI Order 18. Tubixares (Albatrosses, Shearwaters and Petrels). „ 19. Pygopodes (Divers and Grebes). „ 20. Impexxes (Penguins). Sub-class Ratitce (Sternum without a keel). „ Struthioxes (Ostriches). We have heard Europeans assert that there are few birds in South Africa ! Did these individuals go to any trouble to prove or disprove their allegations'? As a matter of fact South Africa teems with bird-life of a varied and interesting nature; even the most uninviting stretches of tlat. dreary- lookmg veld have their share, for here we find larks, pipits, chats, bustards, lapwings and coursers, besides an occasional owl or hawk. South Africa is a large country in which the topographical and climatic aspects are greatly diversified, and bird-life i& accordingly often very "localised" in distribution and variety. A bird may be common in one district, yet twenty or thirty miles away this same species may be quite scarce. Ornithology — and indeed most sciences excepting en- gineering, mineralogy and one or two more — have been neglected in South Africa, and it is only during recent years that any real interest has been evinced in this delightful study, beyond the limits of the few enthusiasts and pro- fessionals engaged in its pursuit. This is all the more surprising when we take into consideration the fact that there is such an immense field for good and original work amongst the fauna of this country, by reason of this very neglect on the part of our predecessors. With the exception of the late A. D. Millar, Austin Eoberts and the Authors, there are very few South African born students who have taken the trouble to verify and extend the discoveries of le Vaillant. Victorin, A. Smith, Burchell and Mr. Ayres, and others of the old "pioneers " of South African ornithology. Xll INTRODUCTION With the help of the photographs in this book it should not be difficult for any one to recognise and determine a fair proportion of the members of the South African avi- fauna, without having recourse to the task of skinning. The latter is, however, learnt with a little patience and practice, and will be found indispensable to any one taking up the study of ornithology in earnest. Notes on habits, coloration of soft parts, contents of crops, dates, &c, should be carefully entered in a book kept for the purpose. For information on skinning we would direct attention to a little work of Eowland Ward's, 166, Piccadilly, London, called the " Sportsman's Handbook " ; and for further and more scientific information on our birds, the four excellent volumes on Birds by Dr. A. C. Stark and W. L. Sclater in the "Fauna of South Africa" series, must be consulted. I Primaries . IT SECONDARIES SI Primary coverts JV Greater W/ms courts V Median coverts V[ lESSSR VYlHG-COVERTS VU BASTARO-iVIMG /N/VEft) {Middle) %~(Our£ftj " The Nomenclature of the External Portions of a Bird's Anatomy (after Reichenow), NOTE The large majority of the illustrations in this work are from photographs from life by my friend, Eobert H. Ivy, late of Grahamstown, now resident in Pretoria, whose name appears on the title-page. Where this is not the case, a note to the effect is added. I am responsible for the text. ALWIN HAAGNER. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION It is now more than five years since the first edition of this work appeared. It has been found necessary to add to the meagre descrip- tions of some of the birds and to add many species omitted in the previous edition. We have done this owing to the fact that the work has been kindly approved by the Trans- vaal Education Department and added to their list of authorised books. We have to thank Mr. M. J. Nicoll for the loan of several blocks from his " Three Voyages of a Naturalist," illustrating the chapter on Seabirds, and to Mr. E. Chambers for the photograph of the Breeding Colony of the Cliff Swallow. A. K. HAAGNEE. E. H. IVY. Transvaal Zoological Gardens, Pretoria. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION This is more in the nature of a popular than a scientific book, as it is specially written with a view to increasing the love for bird study in South Africa. At the present time the country's inhabitants show a considerable lack of knowledge where their own flora and fauna are concerned, and there are but few ornithologists in South Africa. The want of a work such as this has been frequently ex- pressed, and we have, therefore, attempted to fill the gap. Although essentially a popular work, it embodies the results of many years of patient study by the authors, in consequence of which we hope that other students of bird-life will find in it something original and of interest. Our chief difficulty has been to know where to stop ; what to include, and what to omit. In this matter we had perforce to be guided, to a considerable extent, by the illustrations we possessed. We have tried to be short and concise, yet accurate. We are, however, fully aware that fault may be found with our method of treatment, which is based largely on the habits of the birds. By referring to the systematic index the relative position of a bird in ornithological classification can be easily determined. We have included a few personal experiences, with the object of making the book, from a popular standpoint, more interesting. XV111 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION Our best thanks are due to Dr. Duerden for kindly advice, and to Doctors Gough, Kirkman, and Kobertson, and Messrs. Millar, Draper and Pym, for the loan of photographs ; and to the Council of the South African Ornithologists' Union, for the loan of several blocks. To the students of African ornithology this work is respectfully dedicated by THE AUTHOES. Dynamite Factory, modderfontein, transvaal, September 1, 1907. CONTENTS Preface to the Third Edition Introduction .... Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition List of Illustrations CHAPTEK I Scavengers ok the Veld . CHAPTER II Friends of the Agriculturist The Farmer's Foes Bird Architects CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V Denizens of the Forest l'AGK vii IX XV xvii . xxxi 10 82 . 108 143 CHAPTER VI Ornaments of the Veld 196 CHAPTER VII The Birds of River and Vlei CHAPTER VIII Birds of the Sea and Coast . CHAPTER IX Bird-Parasites ..... Name Index Systematic Index . 228 . 262 . 270 . 291 . 305 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Frontispiece. The Authors. Fig. 1 2 3 4 5 Young Griffon Vulture in nest Black Vult up ... ... Late Lieut. < typical nesting site White-necked Raven Marabou Stork Wattled or Locust Starling at nest 6 Rock Bunt inu 7 Young Long-tailed Wagtail in nest 8 Cape Wagtail settling on its eggs 9 Cape Long-tailed Sugar-Bird at nest 10 Cape Rock Thrush at nest ... 11 South African Stone Chat, male, female, nest and eggs 12 Sickle-wing Chat on nest 13 Nest of Cape Flycatcher 14 White-flanked Flycatcher with nest and egg 15 Female Paradise Flycatcher on nest 16 Nest and eggs of Cuckoo-Shrike 17 Female Black Cuckoo-Shrike on nest 18 South African Hoopoe near nest hole in ant- heap ... 19 South African Hoopoe 20 Wood Hoopoe at nest 21 South African Nightjar on its eggs ... 22 Young South African Nightjar 23 Ground Woodpecker 24 Ground Woodpecker at entrance to nest hole 25 Olive Woodpecker at nest hole 26 Knysna Woodpecker 27 South African Wryneck 28 Black-collared Barbet at nest hole ... 29 Cape Tinker Bird at nest hole 30 White-browed Coucal at nest 31 South African Barn Owl 32 Grass Owl 33 White -faced Owls Page Dr. L. Gough 3 wanetti, R.A.F. 5 /;. II. Ivy ti Dr. L. Gough 9 /,'. //. Ivy 11 R. H. Ivy 15 /,'. II. Ivy 16 /'. II. Ivy 17 /,'. //. Ivy 19 R. H. Ivy 23 R. H. Ivy 25 R. H. Ivy 28 A. D. Millar 30 R. H. Ivy 33 R. H. Ivy 34 R. H. Ivy 36 R. H. Ivy 36 R. H. Ivy 38 R. H. Ivy 39 R. H. Ivy 40 R. II. Ivy 43 R. H. Ivy 44 R. H. Ivy 48 R. H. Ivy 49 R. H. Ivy 50 R. H. Ivy 51 R. H. Ivy 53 R. H. Ivy 54 R. H. Ivy 56 R. H. Ivy 58 R. H. Ivy 61 R. H. Ivy 62 C. Wilde 63 XX11 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 40 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 50 57 68 59 00 01 02 03 04 05 00 07 08 09 70 71 72 73 74 75 70 Young Cape Eagle Owl Bush Owl with young at nest hole Cape Eagle Owl and nest A pair of Spotted Eagle Owls Spotted Eagle Owl South African Kestrel Four young South African Kestrels A pair of Lesser Kestrels Cape Quail, nest and eggs Crowned Guinea Fowl, nest and eggs Guinea Fowl Chicks hatching out ... J. R. Ivy climbing to nest of Red-wing Spreeuw Red-wing Starling at nest Cape Bulbul at nest ... Speckled Mousebird ... South African Latmer Falcon Pigmy Falcon Martial Hawk-Eagle ... Nest of Crowned Hawk-Eagle Dr. Stark and R. H. Ivy Female Jackal Buzzard at nest of South African Goshawk ... Young Jackal Buzzards in nest Jackal Buzzard (adult) Black-shouldered Kite Red-breasted Sparrow-Hawk Nest and eggs of African Goshawk ... Female South African Goshawk near nest Nests of Masked Weaver-Bird Nest of Bottle Weaver-Bird Cape Weaver-Bird at nest ... Nest of Forest Weaver-Bird The home of the Red Bishop-Bird ... Cape Bishop-Bird near nest ... Nest of Red-collared Widow-Bird ... Malachite Sunbird at nest Double-collared Sunbird at nest Nest of Black Sunbird Male, female, and nest of Black Sunbird ... Xisl of Cape Penduline Tit ... Nest of White-throated Swallow Pearl-breasted Swallow on nest Nest of Lesser Stripe-breasted Swallow Nest and eggs of Cisticola ruficapilla p 'AGE R. H. Ivy 64 R. H. Ivy 65 R. H. Ivy 66 R. H. Ivy 67 R. H. Ivy 69 R. H. Ivy 71 R. H. Ivy 72 R. H. Ivy 74 R. H. Ivy 76 R. II. Ivy 79 R. H. Ivy 80 R. H. Ivy 83 R. H. Ivy 84 R. H. Ivy 85 R. H. Ivy 87 B.C. R.Lang ford 90 C. B. Horabrugh 91 R. H. Icy 92 R. H. Ivy 93 F. A. 0. Pym 95 R. H. Ivy 98 R. H. Ivy 100 R. H. Ivy 101 R. H. Ivy 103 R. H. Ivy 105 R. H. Ivy 105 R. H. Ivy 106 E. H. U. Draper 109 A. D. Millar 111 R. H. Ivy 112 R. H. Ivy 113 A. K. Haagncr 119 R. H. Ivy 121 F. J. Ellemor 122 R. H. Ivy 125 R. H. Ivy 126 A. D. Millar 128 R. H. Ivy 130 Dr. Kirkman 132 R. H. Ivy 133 R. H. Ivy 134 /,'. //. Ivy 136 R. H. Ivy 136 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS XX111 Fig. 77 Breeding Colony of Cliff Swallows ... 78 Hammerhead and nest on a rock ... 79 A pair of j'oung Hammerheads 80 NTesI of Hammerhead in a tree 81 Collect inu : The Tool, Blaauwkrantz 82 Cape Canary at nest ... 83 Mountain Canary 84 Streaky-headed Seedeater at nest ... 85 Diamond Sparrow near nest- hole 86 Golden-breasted Bunting at nest 87 Female and nest of Black-headed Oriole ... 88 Cape White-Eye at nest 89 Black Tit at nest hole 90 FiskaJ Shrike on nest 91 Nest and egys of Three-streaked Bush-Shrike '.'2 Puff-back Shrikes and nest. (Drawn by 11. Gronvold) 93 Bakbakiri Shrike on its nest 94 Sombre Bui bul at nest 95 Nest and eggs of Noisy Robin-Chat 96 Female Black Bush-Robin on nest... 97 Fork-tailed Drongo with nest and eggs 98 Nest of Square-tailed Drongo 99 Crowned Hornbill in its forest home 100 Crowned Hornbill at nest hole 101 Nest hole of Crowned Hornbill 102 Knysna Lourie with nest and eggs ... 103 South African Speckled or Rock Pigeon ... 104 Speckled or Rock Pigeon 105 Olive Pigeon ... 106 Red-eyed Dove at nest 107 Emerald-spotted Dove 108 Black Crow 109 The home of the Korhaans ... 110 The home of the Warblers 111 Rufous-headed Lark at nest 112 Tawny Pipit, nest and eggs ... 113 Orange River Francolin chicks hatching out 114 Cape Redwing Francolin at nest 115 A pair of Wattled Cranes 116 Blue or Stanley Crane 117 Blue-breasted Korhaans 118 Cape Dikkop's eggs ... 119 Water Dikkop 120 Rufous Courser, with egg Page /,'. ( 'hambera 137 R. H. Ivy 140 R. II. Ivy 1 11 /•.. //. / . Draper 1 12 Dr. Robt rtson 144 /,'. II. Ivy 145 R. H. Ivy 147 /,'. //. Ivy 14S R. H. Ivy 150 R. II. Ivy 152 R. H. Ivy 1 55 R. H. Ivy 157 /.'. //. Ivy 159 R. H. Ivy 160 . 1 . A". Haagner 163 (Photo. Ivy) 164 R. H. Ivy 166 /,'. //. Tvy 169 R. If. Tvy 171 Hewetl Ivy 173 R. H. Ivy 174 A. I). Millar 176 J. R. Ivy 178 R. H. Ivy 179 R. H. Ivy 181 R. H. Ivy 184 R. H. Ivy 188 R. H. Ivy 189 R. H. Ivy 190 R. H. Ivy 191 R. H. Ivy 194 R. H. Ivy 197 A. K. Haagner 198 A. K. Haagner 198 R. H. Ivy 200 R. H. Ivy 202 R. H. Ivy 207 R. H. Ivy 208 A. K. Haagner 210 R. H. Ivy 211 d B. Horshrugh 214 R. H. Ivy 217 R. H. Ivy 218 R. H. Ivy 219" XXIV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 121 Bronze wing Coursers 1 22 Crowned Lapwing at nest 123 Black-winged Plover and eggs 1 24 Female Ostrich on its eggs ... 125 Albino Ostrich 126 Young Ostrich Chicks (to show striping of head) 127 Typical Albany Scenery 128 Half -collared Kingfisher 129 Malachite Kingfisher 130 Brown-hooded Kingfisher near nest hole ... 131 Pink-backed Pelican ... 132 Hadadah Ibis on nest 133 Nest and eggs of Hadadah Ibis 134 Wood Ibis 135 Greater Flamingoes ... 136 Egyptian Geese (enlarged) ... 137 A pair of Egyptian Geese 138 Black Duck 139 Nest and eggs of Black Duck 140 Nest and eggs of White-backed Duck 141 Knob-bill Ducks 142 King Reed-hen, or Purple Gallinule 143 Three-collared Plover and egg 144 Cape Cormorants, with Sacred Ibis in the background 145 Jackass Penguin on nest 146 Jackass Penguins on Dassen Island ... 147 Nestling Scaly -throated Honey-guide 148 Lesser Honey -guide at nest hole of Black- throated Barbet 149 Eggs of Honey -guides wTith those of hosts... 150 Eggs of Cuckoos with those of hosts 151 Red-chested Cuckoo ... 152 Young Red -chested Cuckoo in nest of Cape Rock Thrush 153 Black Cvickoo 154 Young Bronze Cuckoo in Sunbird's nest ... 155 Klaas' or Bronze Cuckoo 156 Young Golden or Diedric Cuckoo in nest of Cape Sparrow 157 Nest of Red -vented Tit-babbler, with egg of Golden Cuckoo ... 158 Two young Great Spotted Cuckoos in nest of Red-wing Starling Page A. K. Haagner 221 R. H. Ivy 223 R. H. Ivy 224 R. H. Ivy 225 A. K. Haagner 226 R. H. Ivy 227 R. H. Ivy 229 R. H. Ivy 230 R. H. Ivy 231 R. H. Ivy 233 0. S. Wigan 236 R. H. Ivy 241 R. H. Ivy 242 A. K. Haagner 243 A. K. Haagner 245 R. H. Ivy 246 R. H. Ivy 247 R. H. Ivy 249 L. E. Taylor 250 A. K. Haagner 252 A. K. Haagner 253 R. II. Ivy 256 R. H. Ivy 258 M. J. Nicoll 263 M. J. Nicoll 266 M. J. Nicoll 268 R. H. Ivy 272 R. H. Ivy 275 R. H. Ivy 276 /,'. //. Ivy 278 R. H. Ivy 279 R. H. Ivy 280 R. H. Ivy 282 R. H. Ivy 283 R. H. Ivy 284 R. 11. Ivy 285 R. //. Ivy 285 R. H. Ivy 288 SKETCHES OF SOUTH AFRICAN BIRD-LIFE CHAPTER I SCAVENGERS OF THE VELD VULTURES AND RAVENS South Africa fortunately possesses quite a number of species of the Vulture tribe, the commonest of which is generally known as the Gyps kolbii of ornithologists and the Aasvogel of the Boers. Birds with an unprepossessing appearance and an evil smell, they are, nevertheless, exceedingly useful in clearing the veld of carrion. During the rinderpest and similar epidemics among live stock, the Vultures were of great utility in clearing off the putrid remains of bovine herds. Even these birds, plentiful as they were, could not cope with the number of cattle that were dying, or had to be shot, and which were buried in hundreds. The Vultures' feast ; what a sight ! Yet it has its interesting side. During the year 1890, both this Vulture and the White- necked Raven (Corvultur albicollis) were common in the neighbourhood of Grahamstown, and no sooner was a dead horse or other animal dragged out to one of the kloofs than Ravens and Vultures could be seen winging their way to the spot from all quarters of the horizon. Judging by the way they follow one another, we feel convinced that they locate 1 B 2 SCAVENGERS OP THE VELD the carcass more by sight than from any sense of smell. The Eavens were always the more fearless and the first to arrive. Within an hour there would be between fifty and a hundred Vultures circling in mid-air, or sitting on the boulders around the carcass, waiting until there was no apparent danger. Meanwhile, the more fearless Eavens were making an excellent meal. As soon as the Vultures feel confidence in their safety the carcass is attacked en bloc and a tearing and rending of flesh, flapping of wings and screaming ensues. During the rinderpest the Vultures were in the habit of gorging themselves to such an extent that they could just manage to drag themselves to the water — if any was near — have a drink and vomit up everything, then return and gorge again. They were often so completely gorged with the putrid flesh that they could barely move and could easily be knocked over with a stick. We often attempted to ride them down when in this lethargic condition, but few horses will go close to a Vulture, shying violentty at the grotesque figure, to which they are quite unaccustomed. In attacking a carcass, as a rule, the eyes and tongue are picked out first. The Aasvogel some years ago took to an entirely new departure. Grave reports repeatedly came in from farmers to the South African Ornithologists' Union and the various Departments of Agriculture, stating that the Vulture had developed a taste for fresh meat. The farmers complained of their sheep being destroyed, even full-grown ewes being killed and devoured. One reason for this change of habit was pro- bably the increase in numbers, consequent upon the plentiful supply of food during the rinderpest, and the subsequent falling off in this food supply owing to the eradication of the epidemic. Mr. Claude Taylor gave prominence to this serious new phase in the economy of the Vulture, in the VULTURES AND RAVELS •June, 1907, number of tho Journal of the South African Orn iihohgists' Tin ion . The South African Griffon Vulture is generally of a pale /. o ashy-brown colour, the tail and primary wing feathers being black, but the coloration of the bird varies considerably, young specimens being darker and old birds being almost 4 SCAVENGERS OF THE VELD white. It usually nests in krantzes (cliffs) in the Orange Free State, constructing a rough saucer-shaped nest of sticks on a ledge of rock, or on a boulder. It is some- times placed within easy access on a rocky hillside, and sometimes on steep cliffs, where it can only be reached by means of a rope suspended from above. Years before the war we visited several such nesting sites and found them strewn with the skeletons and feathers of the Vultures. It lays one egg in July or August, usually of a dirty white colour, but sometimes marked with a few brown spots. In the Pretoria district it also builds in trees, and the Transvaal Museum contains a huge nest of sticks, placed in the fork of a mimosa, containing a half-fledged young bird. Quite a number of these young Vultures were brought to the Pretoria Zoological Gardens from the same locality. There is another fairly well-known species, the Black Vulture, often called the Koning Aasvogel (King Vulture), the Otogyps auricularis of science, which is considerably scarcer than the ordinary Aasvogel, and is seldom seen in large numbers, generally going about in pairs or in small parties of from five to seven individuals. Mr. L. E. Taylor mentions one exception, in which case he found twenty of them together at Irene, Transvaal. This bird is apparently held in high respect by the ordinary Griffon Vulture, a fact well illustrated on one notable occasion in the Maroka district of the Orange Free State in 1894, when about twenty vultures were feeding on a dead dog. Suddenly a new arrival appeared on the scene, and the others scattered, leaving the new-comer, a solitary Black Vulture, to its lonely repast. It was a strange scene ; there the bird stood wTrenching off and swallowing lumps of flesh, while round him in a ring, but at a respectful distance, sat the others. As soon as "His Majesty " retired satisfied, the other VULTURES AND RAVENS 5 birds rushed at the carcass, and the usual fighting, flapping of wings, screaming and tearing, went on again. We have repeatedly seen how the Common Vulture stands in awe of the Black, but the above-cited case was the most pronounced and remarkable one of all. There is a popular belief prevalent amongst the country- Fig. 2.— Black Vulture. (Photo, by late Lieut. Giovanetti, R.A.F.) folk that Vultures will not eat an animal killed by lightning, but this is a fallacy. It may have occurred, but we know of innumerable instances where sheep, goats and cattle so killed have been devoured, and Mr. L. E. Taylor records a case where a small flock of sheep killed by lightning were subse- quently eaten by both Common and Black Vultures. The Black Vulture nests in trees, building a large structure, SCAVENGERS OF THE VELD ■ Fig. 3. — White necked Raven : typical nesting site. HAVENS 7 about 4 feet in diameter, of sticks, and laving a single egg of a dirty white colour, sometimes blotched with reddish- brown. The African White-backed Vulture (Pseuclogyps africanus) is a little-known bird, differing mainly from the other species in the possession of a pure white lower back and rump. It is brown above and pale brown below. It is essentially a Tropical African species, but was found breeding in some number in June, near Potchefstroom, Transvaal, by Major Sparrow, of the 7th Dragoon Guards. Some doubt was expressed by Mr. W. J.. Sclater, in his Check-list, as to the identification of the species, one specimen, forwarded to the South African Museum by A. Roberts, possessing fourteen tail feathers, whereas the genus Pseudogyps is characterised by the possession of twelve only. There is, however, a specimen from Potchefstroom now in the Transvaal Museum (received June 6, 1907), which is an undoubted example of the White-backed Vulture, with tivelve tail feathers. In Northern Rhodesia this bird appears to be the common species, as the examples procured at Monze, in November, 1919, as well as those received at the National Zoo, from Pemba, were of this variety. The last of the Vulture tribe which concerns us is the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), a much smaller bird than kolbii or auricularis, and immediately distinguish- able by the bristle-like ruff on the back of the head, and by its slender beak. It is somewhat evenly distributed over South Africa, being, however, according to Major Kirby, more common in the Eastern Transvaal. There are specimens in the Pretoria Zoological Gardens from the Ermelo district. RAVENS The White-necked Raven breeds on a shelving rock or in a hole, on the face of a krantz in some wTooded kloof. 8 SCAVENGERS OF THE VELD making a nest of sticks and lining it with fibres, and hair of dassies (Procavia) and hares. It lays, during the months of November to January, three eggs of a bluish-white colour marked" with various shades of brown. EAGLES Several of the Eagles feed on carrion, but as they are nothing like exclusively carrion-feeders, we shall not describe them in this chapter. LAMMERGEYER The peculiar Lammergeyer (Gypaetus ossifragus) is called by the Boers the Lammervanger (Lamb-catcher), but the stories told of its attacking sheep, and even human beings, are exaggerated ! They subsist chiefly on bones and carrion and reside in mountain- fastnesses, the DrakensbergBange between Natal and the Orange Free State being a favourite haunt, The bird has a bunch of black bristles under the chin, and the general colour is ashy-black above, and bright rusty-chestnut mottled with white below. Length 44 inches. Some of the old Boers looked upon this species as a bird of ill-omen. It derived its specific name of ossifragus from a popular belief amongst the ancients to the effect that the bird carried into the air bones too large to swallow, and let them fall on a rock for the purpose of breaking them. THE MARABOU STORK One other bird remains to be mentioned, the solemn and grotesque-looking Marabou (Leptoptilus crumcniferus) , which, although belonging to the stork family ((' icon i idee), is never- theless a true carrion feeder, its strong sharp beak enabling it to compete successfully against the Vultures and Havens. Although feeding largely on carrion, it also eats crabs, fish, and various insects. Andersson mentions it as a true scavenger. It does not breed in South Africa, and is a THE MARABOU STORK 9 scarce bird throughout the sub-continent except in Upper Rhodesia and the northern territories of Bechuanaland and in South-Wesl Africa. II is unfortunately much persecuted on the Nile on account of the lovely fluffy under-tail coverts. The head, neck and centre of breast are devoid of feathers, Fig. 4.— The Marabou Stork. (Photo. Dr. Gough.) the colour of the back is black, and the underparts are white ; there is a distensible pouch of naked skin below the neck. Length about 40 inches. The bird will, however, be easily recognised from the excellent portrait, taken by Dr. L. Gough of the Transvaal Museum, reproduced herein. CHAPTER II FEIENDS OF THE AGEICULTUEIST LOCUST BIRDS First on the list of useful birds inhabiting South Africa come the five species of Locust Birds belonging to .three widely divergent ornithological groups. They are protected by law in the Transvaal. The true Locust Bird, or Klein Springhaan Vogel, is the celebrated Wattled Starling (Creatophora carunculata). These birds belong to the Starling family (Sturnidce), and follow the swarms of locusts in nocks, nesting in the vicinity of locust hatcheries and feeding themselves and their young on the young locusts, or voetgangers (walkers), as the wing- less immature insects are called. During the month of December, 1895, a flock of these birds visited the Albany Division, Cape Province, and nested close to the Chuinie River, near Koonap, Mr. Ivy informed me. There were a few single nests — these in each case measured about -2 feet by 1 foot in size— but for the most part the nests were grouped together in threes and fours in single trees. Some small thorn-trees were literally enveloped in three or four nests. There were about fifty or sixty nests within a radius of almost as many yards ; within this space there was hardly a tree that had not at least one nest. Beyond the clump selected by the birds as a nesting site there were no isolated nests, although the trees extended all round. All the nests examined — about twenty — had two apertures, both on the same side. On January 20, 1906, 10 LOCUST BIRDS 11 the birds suddenly departed, leaving a few half-fledged young, and some eggs to perish and decay. None of the local farmers could remember having seen these birds in the breeding season there before, although during the winter months the Wattled Starling may be found in small numbers throughout the Eastern Districts, flying in company with the ordinary Spreeuw (Spreo bicolor). 12 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST The Wattled Starling is of a pale drab colour, with the wing and tail feathers black. The head of the male is adorned with a wattle or two on the crown, and a lappet depending from the throat. They lay four or five eggs of a bluish-white colour, sometimes, though rarely, speckled with black. The next two species which are also known by the ver- nacular name of Small Locust Bird, are the two Pratincoles (Glareola pratincola and G. melanoptera) . They are brown in coloration, with a sandy-buff throat, margined by a black ring, and white belly. The axillaries and under-wing coverts are chestnut in pratincola, whereas these regions in melmwptera are black. Length, lOf inches. The Black- winged species, the commoner and better known bird, is a migrant from Western Siberia and South- west Bussia, where it breeds, arriving in South Africa during September to November, and leaving again about the end of March. These birds have very long wings, and consequently excellent powers of flight. To see a flock at work on a locust- swarm is one of the most interesting of sights. In January, 1906, at Brandfort, Orange Free State, a large flock of these birds were busy making a morning meal off a swarm of locusts. The sun had not yet warmed the insects up to a proper degree of activity, and the birds had in consequence a fairly easy time of it. Flying in a crescent-shaped flock, they would bear down on the locusts and sweep over them with the effect of putting them on the wing. As soon as this was accomplished and the insects were about 2 or 3 feet from the ground, the flock of birds wheeled with the rapidity of thought, the outer edges of the crescent con- verging to the centre, and enclosing the insects in a living circle. The startled locusts, in their half-lethargic condition, LOCUST BIRDS J 3 immediately settled again amidst a perfect hail of dropping wings, and the birds would repeat the manoeuvre. Dr. Stark describes similar methods employed by the Wattled Starling in mid-air, differing slightly in the detail of the attack. In the Central Transvaal we have noticed that the Pratin- cole is exceedingly partial to riving ants, hawking them on the wing after a rain, when these insects usually appear in large numbers. The birds' evolutions in mid-air are exceedingly graceful to watch. Mr. Millar records having found a Colony of the Red- wing Pratincole breeding in an old land in Natal. The fourth species of Locust Bird is vastly different from the three preceding species, being a Stork — the White Stork of Europe (the Stork of German " baby " fame) — Ciconia ciconia of science. It is also a summer migrant to South Africa, and is irregularly distributed over the country, being more or less dependent on the swarms of locusts which it follows. Within the last two or three years some score of birds with a metal ring on the leg, bearing a number and the name of the institution that placed it there, have been shot, or picked up dead, in South Africa, which proves conclusively that birds hatched in North Germany wander as far south as Basutoland and Cape Provnice. We have also noticed during the last winter or two that a few storks have wintered over in South Africa, and other observers have reported the same fact from various parts of the country. It breeds chiefly in Holland and Germany. It is a white bird with black wings, a long red bill, and long red legs. Length, about 45 inches. The last of the " Locust " Birds is the White-bellied Stork (Abdimia abdimii), a slightly glossy blackjbird with a white 14 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST back and white underparts. Length, about 30 inches. It is also a follower of the locust swarms, and breeds in Northern Africa. There is no over-estimating the good all these birds do in devouring large numbers of that terrible scourge to South African agriculture, which, according to the locust officer of the Transvaal, has resulted in ever-diminishing numbers of this pest. BUNTINGS Starting with the Passeres, the Buntings are our next group of friends. The Cape Bunting (Fringillaria capensis), or Streep kopje (lit striped head), is a tame and confiding little bird, living amongst the rocky kopjes on the veld or on stony ridges in the vicinity of dwellings, where it creeps about amongst the crannies looking for the insects which form its staple diet. It is rare in Albany, but is more plentiful in the North Cape Province at Cradock and in the Orange Free State ; in the latter country we took many nests, some as late as March. It builds a cup-shaped nest in a low bush under a rock and lays three or four pale greenish eggs thickly marked with yellow and red-brown blotches and spots. The bird is of a brownish tint, streaked with black above, and whitish below. The sides of the head are ornamented with four alternate black and white streaks from which it derives its Dutch name. Length, 6 inches ; wing, 3| inches. The smaller Bock Bunting (F. tahapisi) is also rare in Albany, but is fairly common in the Orange Free State and parts of the Transvaal, notably at Irene, near Pretoria. One clutch of eggs was taken at Bluekrantz, near Grahams- town, and several clutches in the Orange Free State. In each case the nest was placed in a hollow in the ground WAGTAILS J 5 beneath a stone on a rocky hillside ; it was cup-shaped, lined with fine fibre and hair, and contained three eggs, each of a greenish-white ground colour, spotted and blotched with Fig. 6. — Rock Bunting. purplish-brown and lavender. This species is redder in tone and has a darker head than the Cape Bunting. It is also smaller. Length, 5| inches; wing. 3 inches. WAGTAILS The next family takes us to our confiding little friends the Wagtails (Motacilla), locally called " Quickies " or " Quick- stertjes," of which South Africa possesses seven species. Taking them in order of classification, we have first the African Pied Wagtail (M. vidua), which is easily recognisable anywhere by its jet black and pure white plumage. It is distributed over the greater part of Africa, south of the great desert, extending northwards into Egypt and Palestine. Its eggs are larger than those of the Cape Wagtail. The Grey-backed Wagtail (M. longicauda) is blue-grey above, the wing-feathers are black and white and the under- pays white with a black band on the lower throat. The tail is rather longer than that of any of the other species, 10 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST measuring about 4 inches. It is not a common bird, and is very local in its distribution. Near Grahams! own it has Fig. 7. — Young Long-tailed Wagtail in nest. been found breeding, and we subjoin a photograph of a young bird in its nest. Its eggs are grey mottled Avith brown. The Cape Wagtail (M. capensis) is (he common species of South Africa. It is abundant in the Cape Province, Upper WAGTAILS 17 Fiu. 8. — Cape Wagtail settling on its eggs. 18 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal, becoming scarce in Ehodesia and South- West Africa. The confiding little Quickstertje, in its soft grey coat, is too well-known to need any description whatever. It is a familiar figure in the neighbourhood of any farm- house and along watercourses, where it usually nests under a tuft of grass on the edge of the bank or on a ledge in the bank itself. We have also found the nest situated on willow stumps and in creepers growing on the side of a house. It builds a cup-shaped nest of grass lined with twine, wool, &c. ; its exterior is often of an untidy appearance, but inside it is neat and cosy. The Cape Wagtail lays three eggs of a buffish tinge thickly marked with pale brown. When incubated the mottlings often become obscure, giving the egg a general brownish tinge. Bay's Yellow Wagtail (M. camjjesiris) is a rare migrant from Europe, breeding in the British Isles and Southern Russia. We saw a single specimen on the Jokeskei River, north of Johannesburg, in December, 1905. The Blue-headed Wagtail (M. flava) is olive-yellow above and bright yellow below, with a blue-grey head. It is also a migrant from Europe and Asia, ranging as far south as Natal, Transvaal and Damaraland. The Black-headed Wagtail (M. melajwcejfhala) is another European bird, but has only been once recorded from South Africa — by Ayres, from the Transvaal. The Wagtails are true friends of the farmer, being almost exclusively insect feeders, accounting for large numbers of plant-bugs and lice, mosquitoes, caterpillars, &c. SUGAR-BIRDS The Sugar-Birds (Promeropidce), called Zuiker-vogels by the Boers — a name shared by the Sunbirds — are also real SUGAR-BIRDS 19 friends of the farmer, for although subsisting largely on nectar sucked from the flowers of protea bushes and other Fig. 9. — Cape Long-tailed Sugar- Bird at nest. (The nest, with egg just visible, is near the lower ieft-hand corner.) blooms, they feed extensively on various insects. They are amongst the few winter breeders in South Africa, nesting from May to July. The nest is a deep cup of twigs, dry 20 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST grass and roots, lined with pine-needles and downy seed- heads. It is generally placed in a protea bush or bunch of heath, and usually contains two eggs, which vary from a very pale to a reddish-brown ground colour, and are sometimes marked with pencillings and blotches of black, and some- times of brown. The Cape Sugar-Bird (Promerops cafer) is of a sombre brown colour, with the vent and under tail-coverts bright yellow. The males sport long curved tail-feathers. Length of male about 18 inches, whereof the tail is 11 inches ; female 9J inches. This species is confined to the Cape Province. The nest — a rare one in the Eastern Cape districts during recent years — can be seen low down on the left of the picture, and is rather indistinct. The second species is a scarcer bird, and does not extend to the Cape, being only a winter visitor to Natal. It is called the Natal Sugar-bird (P. gurneyi), and has a shorter tail than the Cape species. Length only 11 inches, tail 6i inches. The feathers of the forehead and crown are of a deep chestnut-red, with pale shaft markings, whereas these regions in the Cape species are buff-brown. SUNBIRDS The Sunbirds are all friends of the agriculturists, but owing to their architectural skill in nest building we will include them under a more special heading. TIT-BABBLERS Of the Tit-babblers (Parisoma), the little Bed-vented species (P. sabccerideam) is perhaps the best-known bird in its grey and white plumage, streaked throat, and chest- nut-red vent and under tail-coverts. It is not uncommon in Albany Division, Cape Province, and at Irene and Aapies WARBLERS -THRUSHES 21 River, Pretoria District, Transvaal. The Red- vented Tit- babbler builds a cup-shaped nest of rootlets and twigs lined with finer material, fibre, hair. &c, and lays three eggs of a white ground colour blotched with light and dark sepia coloured markings. It is a neat, active little bird and a true friend of the agriculturist, existing almost exclusively upon insects. WARBLERS The Warblers (Sylmidce) are a large group of more or less dull-coloured little birds, which are difficult of correct identifi- cation. They arc also true friends of the fanners, but the few species we will treat of will be referred to in other chapters. THRUSHES The family of Thrushes, Chats. &c. (Turdidce), is a large one, and South Africa possesses a number of useful species. including amongst them some of our best-known birds. First in order of classification comes the Ground-scraper Thrush (Turdus litsipsirupa), a bird with a pale brown back, and whitish underparts sprinkled with large pear- shaped spots of black. Length, 8J inches. This bird is scarce and local in some regions, although we found it not uncommon on the Modder River, Orange Free State, and also along the Crocodile River in the Pretoria Bushveld. It is fairly common in South- West x\frica. Major Sparrow describes the egg as of a pale blue ground colour speckled with light and dark brown. It nests during the months of September to November. The best known species of Thrushes in this country are the Cape Thrush (T. olivaceus) and its " up-country " representative, the Orange-billed Thrush (T. cabanisi). They are of a general slatey-olive tint on the back ; whitish throat 22 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST streaked with rufous and black : sides of body and belly orange-rufous ; length about 9| inches. The main differences between the two species arc as follows : The flanks, which in olivaceus are orange-chestnut, are brown in cabanisi ; the bill of the latter bird is wholly of a yellowish-orange colour, while that of olivaceus has the upper mandible of a dusky olive-green. The Cape Thrush ranges from Cape Province through Natal to Zululand, while its place is taken in the Orange Free State, Transvaal and Bechuanaland by the Orange- billed species. The Kurrichaine Thrush (T. li human us) is somewhat similar to the two preceding species, differing mainly in having the centre of the belly white and the bill bright orange-red. Length, 8| inches. W. L. Sclater says this is the commonest form of Thrush between the Orange and Zambesi Rivers. It is common in the precincts of the Pretoria Zoo. All three birds lay from three to five bluish-green eggs speckled and blotched, chiefly at the larger end, with reddish- brown. They build large cup-shaped nests of twigs and roots situated generally in a thick bush or tree. They feed largely on insect life, thus being useful birds, but are not above occasionally devouring fruit. Two fairly common birds in the district of Grabamstown are the Cape Eock- Thrush (Monticola rupestris) and the Sentinel Eock-Thrush (M. explorator). Both are of a reddish- brown colour above and chestnut-red below, the Cape Rock- Thrush differing from its congener in having only the head and neck of a slatey-blue colour, whereas this coloration is continued on to the back in the case of the " Sentinel." In addition, the latter is a smaller bird, being 7| inches in length against 9 inches for the former species. THRUSHES 23 24 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST The young birds and the females have the head and adjacent regions coloured like the back. Both these birds lay eggs of a very pale blue ground colour (almost white), sparsely speckled with pale rusty- brown, those of the Sentinel Bock-Thrush being smaller than those of its larger congener. The nest is a saucer-shaped structure of sticks and roots, lined with fine rootlets and hair, and is usually situated in a hole or crevice, or on a ledge under a rock. They have a loud, lively song, and are chiefly insect feeders, devouring large numbers of beetles, ants, plant-bugs, &c, varied by a few fruits and seeds. One other fairly common species may be noted, the Short-toed Rock-Thrush (M. brevipes), from the Western region, ranging from Upington on the Orange River to Southern Damaraland and the Transvaal. It resembles M. exjjlorator, but has a shorter toe. Little is known of its habits. CHATS A very familiar bird is the Ant-eating Chat (Myrme cocichla formicivora) , in its sombre plumage of sooty-brown, and conspicuous white wing patches as it flutters in the air with its feeble flight. It measures about 6f inches in length. It is fairly common throughout, although rather locally distributed in some pa its. It is commonest on stretches of veld covered with ant-heaps, where it may be seen every- where perched on the " hills " or at the entrance to some meerkat or aardvark (antbear) burrow. The nest is usually situated in a hole in a burrow or in an excavation in an ant-heap, and the eggs are pure white, usually numbering three or four. The Buff-streaked Chat (.1/. bifasciata) is a handsome CHATS 25 yy'^'-v;i ' - -v. -;>-rf* K&1 Fig 11.— South Alrican Stone Chat, male, female, nest and eggs. 26 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST bird with the top of the head black, forehead and a long eyebrow buff-white ; wings, tail, sides of face and neck, and throat black ; rest of under-surface and rump region buff. The plumage of the female is much duller, being more or less of a general brownish-buff tint. Length, 7 inches. It is fairly common in the region ranging from the Eastern Cape Province to the Transvaal. At Grahamstown, Cape Province, and Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, it is fairly common, presenting a conspicuous appearance as it sits on a rock and warbles its loud, lively song. It is fond of rocky localities, building its nest under an overhanging rock, or in a rat's hole, and laying three or four eggs of a pale blue-green speckled with red- brown. It feeds on insects of various kinds. Another familiar insect-eating species known throughout the country is the little Bontrockie (lit. Parti-coloured Coat), or South African Stonechat (Pratincola torquata). The male in summer is black above except the rump regions, which are white, chestnut and white below, the black feathers taking a rufous edging during the winter months. The female is browner and more sombrely plumaged. Length, about 5| inches. The Bontrockie may be found flitting about the banks of a spruit (stream), or perching on the ant-heaps and stems of the open veld some distance from water. It usually nests under a tuft of grass growing on the edge of a bank, generally overhanging water; but some- times under a tuft of herbage on a slope some distance from the water. The eggs are usually three in number and of a pale greenish tinge blotched with pale rusty-brown. The genus Saxicola, containing some well-known birds, is a large one. CHATS 27 The Mountain Chat, (S. monticola) is chiefly remarkable for the puzzling phases of plumage through which the male passes — from brownish-black with the rump regions and the basal portion of the tail-feathers white, except the two centre ones (this is the plumage of the female throughout), to grey, and greyish-white with white shoulders. Length, 8 inches. It is a common bird in the drier [tortious of South Africa. from the Middle and Western (ape Province northwards. It is a lover of rocky localities, being found in the dreariest of places. It nests under rocks or on a ledge of a bank, and lays pale blue-green eggs which are sometimes plain and some- times speckled with reddish-purple. The Capped Wheatear (S. pileata) is the Schaap-wachter (Shepherd) of the Dutch. It resembles the Buff-streaked Chat at first sight, but can easily be recognised by its rufous- brown back and broad black chest-hand. Length, 6| inches. It is a tame, confiding bird and is fond of the neighbour- hood of buildings and kraals. It differs from the Buff- streaked Chat in habits in preferring flat open stretches to more mountainous regions. It builds a flat, saucer-shaped nest of hair and grass in a hole, and lays eggs of a pale greeny- white colour. This is a fairly common bird in the Brandfort and Spring- fontein districts, Orange Free State. The Familiar Chat (S.familiaris), more commonly known as the Spekvreter (Bacon-eater), is reddish-brown above, and huffish below. It is fairly well distributed throughout South Africa, and seems to prefer the neighbourhood of farm- houses and cattle-kraals, eating bacon and fat from the 28 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST kitchen table, or grease from the wagon-wheels, whence its somewhat absurd Dutch name. It builds a nest of grass, wool and hair, under a stone or in a hole in a wall, during the months of November and December and lays three eggs of a bright blue, speckled with rusty-brown in the form of a zone round the blunt end. Fig. 12. — Sickle-wing Chal on nest. The Sickle-winged Chat (Emarginata sinuata) is brown above, shading into chestnut on the rump, and grey below, tinged with brown on the chest. It can easily be dis- tinguished from the Familiar Chat, which it rather closely resembles, by the sickle-shape narrowing of the first primary CHATS 29 (i.e. the first long wing-feather), and its smaller size, being 5-| inches long to the other's 6| inches. This bird is called the " Dagbreker " by the Boers (meaning Day breaker), a name which is, however, also applied to the Familiar Chat in certain districts. It is found in Cape Province, Orange Free State, Bechu- analand and the Transvaal. It is not uncommon in the Springfontein and Bloemfontein districts of the Orange Free State. It nests under a rock or stone, occasionally in a wall or under a tussock of grass. At Springfontein, where the local name for both this bird and the Familiar Chat is the " Dagbreker," we found the latter bird nesting in holes in walls, banks, outbuildings, &c, whereas the Sickle-wing was only found in the culti- vated land and on the " flats " of the veld, where it nests either in an ant-heap or under a bush or tuft of grass. The nest is rather a deep cup, of dried weed-stalks and small twigs, lined with fibre and hair. The nest in the photograph was situated under a wild " Forget-me-not " on level ground and contained three eggs ; on the same flat was another nest containing young, also under a weed. The eggs are usually three in number and of a light bluish-green colour, sparsely freckled on the blunt end with greyish- buff. The White-shouldered Bush Chat (Thamnolcea cinna- momeiventris) is glossy blue-black above and below, except- ing the shoulders, which are adorned with a conspicuous white patch, and the rump region, abdomen and flanks, which are chestnut. A whitish bar separates the black of the breast from the chestnut. Length, 8| inches. It is fairly common on the krantzes in the Grahams- town kloofs, where it usually lays in old Swallows' nests. The normal clutch consists of three eggs which are of a Fig. 13. — Nest of Cape Flycatcher. (Pboto. A. D. Millar.) FLYCATCHERS 3 1 bluish-white ground, spotted and dotted with lavender-grey and yellowish-brown. Jt feeds largely upon ants, flies and grasshoppers. It is found in Upper Natal, and we met with it at Orange Grove, just outside of Johannesburg (north). We will deal with the Eobin Chats under another chapter. FLYCATCHERS The Flycatchers (Family Musicapidce) may all be in- cluded amongst the truest friends of the agriculturist and are also dwellers of forest and bush. The Dusky Flycatcher (Alseonax adusta) is an ashy- brown little bird with a white eyebrow, and is common in the wooded belts of the South-Eastern portion of South Africa. Length, 4| inches. It builds a neat little cup-shaped nest covered on the outside with lichen, generally situated in a cavity or ledge on the face of a rocky krantz overshadowed by trees ; sometimes in a hollow in the bark of a tree- trunk. In the neighbourhood of (irahamstown this bird has taken to building in the fork of a pine-tree or on the top of a bundle of debris (pine-needles, &c.) between the branches. It lays three or four eggs of a greenish colour freckled with brown and red- brown, during the months of September to December. On one occasion when encamped with Dr. Stark in a kloof, a little Dusky Flycatcher was seated on its nest in a tiny niche in the face of a rock a foot or so from the doctor's head, and although it was the first nest of this species he had seen, needless to say the confiding little bird was left in peace. The Cape Flycatcher (Batis capensis) has the top of the head blue-grey, back olive-brown, tail-feathers black tipped with white ; below white with a broad black band across 32 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST the chest, and the sides of the body orange-rufous. The female has no black band on the chest, the whole of the under- pays being a dark orange-chestnut. Length, 6\ inches. This bird is a lover of thickly wooded country, and is particularly fond of the kloofs, where it builds a shallow cup-shaped nest of grass and other material, lined internally with fibre and hair and covered externally with lichen. The eggs are pale greenish-white spotted with pale brown and marked with a ring of purplish-brown blotches on the obtuse end. The White-flanked Flycatcher (B. molitor), both male and female, have the flanks white, mottled with black instead of orange-rufous, the female otherwise resembling that of the foregoing species. This bird arrives in the neighbourhood of Grahamstown about the middle of October, when its sweet simple call of three notes in a descending scale may be heard among the mimosa bushes, which it largely affects. In fact, it seems to prefer the more open mimosa scrub to the kloofs. Its nest resembles that of the Cape Flycatcher, and is generally saddled on a lichen-covered bough of a mimosa, and is a most beautiful example of assimilative art. Its eggs are pale green, thickly spotted with brown of various shades. The Pririt Flycatcher (B. pririt) closely resembles the White-flanked Flycatcher, the male differing in having the outer tail-feathers black on the outer web, these being only tipped with white; and the female in having the throat and chest suffused with pale orange-rufous. It ranges from Cape Town eastwards to Colesberg and Grahamstown. A. pair found breeding in January at Blue Krantz, in FLYCATCHERS 33 Fig. 14. — White-flanked Flycatcher with nest and egg. 34 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST the Albany Division, had constructed a nest much like those usually built by its congeners, and laid three eggs of a light blue-green, spotted all over with brown and lavender, the spots being more profuse on the blunt end, forming a fairly well-marked zone. The Paradise Flycatcher (Tchitrea persjii cilia la) is of a Fig. 15. — Female P Flycatcher on nest. bright chestnut colour above with the crested head, throat and sides of neck steel-green; under-surface slatey-grey, excepting the under tail-coverts, which are white. The male is adorned with a long and graceful tail. Length of male aboul 11 or 15 inches; female, 7 inches. Prom the Central Transvaal northwards llii- species is replaced by the CUCKOO-SHRIKES 35 closely allied Lead-headed Flycatcher (T. plumbeiceps), dis- tinguished by its plain grey head, with hardly any gloss. Both species are denizens of forest and bush country. At Irene we found them frequenting a thick grove of shady willow trees and poplars growing in the vicinity of the Hennops River ; they may often be seen darting at some unsuspecting insect or flitting from one tree to another with a leisurely, graceful flight. The Paradise Flycatcher is very common in the Grahams- town Kloofs, building a neat little cup-shaped nest of grass and fibres covered on the outside with lichen and moss, which is generally fixed near the end of a branch over- hanging a pool or rill. The sitting female will allow one to approach to within 3 feet of her nest, and indeed it would even be possible in some cases to catch her with the hand. The Paradise Flycatcher lays three pretty cream-coloured eggs, spotted with pinkish-brown, with sometimes a few additional purplish blotches. The Spotted Flycatcher (Musicapa grisola) is brown above, the feathers of the top of the head with dark centres, giving this region a mottled appearance. Cheeks and a ring round the eye whitish. Underparts white, the breast and sides being streaked with brown. Length about 6 inches. This is a European bird, which migrates to India and South Africa, arriving here about the middle of October and leaving us in April. The Pretoria Zoo generally contains a goodly number in the latter month when they are on their way home. CUCKOO SHRIKES The Cuckoo-Shrikes (Family Campophagidce) are birds of somewhat retiring habits. Frc. 16. — Nest and eggs of Cuckoo-Shrike. Fio. 17. — Female Black Cuckoo-Shrike on nest. HOOPOES 37 There are two species found in South Africa, the Black Cuckoo-Shrike (C. nigra) and the Yellow-shouldered Shrike (C. hartlaubi). The male of the former is entirely glossy black, the latter has a lemon-yellow shoulder patch. The females of both birds are of a greyish colour, barred with black, the feathers of the wings and tail being edged and tipped with yellow. Length, Si to 9 inches. These birds are inhabitants of most of the forest and bush regions of South Africa, where they construct a small, shallow, saucer-like nest of fine twigs and ptylandsia covered on the exterior surface with grey lichen. The nest is saddled on a lichen-covered bough, which renders it extremely difficult of detection. The lining of those found by us was composed entirely of ptylandsia. The eggs invariably number two, those of the Black Cuckoo-Shrike being of a light greenish-blue slightly tinged with yellow, spotted with lavender and purple of a dark shade; while those of the Yellow-shouldered species are light greenish- buff, spotted with blackish and blotched with dark and light lavender. The Grey Cuckoo-Shrike (Coracina ccesius) is of a general dark bluish-grey colour, with a broad black mark between the bill and the eye. Length, 10| inches. It frequents the topmost branches of high forest trees. The Cuckoo-Shrikes are very useful birds, feeding on caterpillars, locusts, and other insect pests, and should be protected as much as possible, as they are not particularly plentiful. HOOPOES The South African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) is a well- known bird in its brick-red plumage, black and white wings and fan-like crest, which it raises and depresses at will. 38 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST It is fairly generally distributed throughout the sub- continent, being a " partial migrant " — appearing and disappearing from a district at intervals. Its cry of poop poop is a familar one in the mimosa scrub, which is its favourite haunt. It affects orchards and gardens as well, where it does yeoman service in clearing off beetles, grasshoppers, grubs, &c. **. Fig. 18. — South African Hoopoe near nest hole in ant-heap. In the Eastern Cape Province it breeds during October and November, but later in the Transvaal. We have taken full clutches of eggs in November, December and even in February. It nests in holes in trees, or, more frequently, in HOOPOES 39 ant-heaps, in holes excavated by an ant-bear in search of its food. The eggs are very pale blue when first laid, but become a dirty pale brownish-colour when addled ; from three to five form the clutch. South African Hoopoe. The Wood Hoopoes (Irrisoridce) are represented in South Africa by two well-marked species, the first of which is the Red-billed Wood Hoopoe or Kakelaar (Chatterer) {Irrisor viridis). In Grahamstown it is often called the Monkey- bird, probably also on account of its chattering, noisy habits. 40 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST x'V'-f ~¥/:'S Fro. 20. — Wood Hoopoe at nest. SWIFTS 41 It is easily recognised by its steel-green and dark blue plumage, strongly graduated tail with white spots on the feathers (excepting the two centre), black belly and red bill. It is found from Knysna in Cape Province, eastwards through Natal to Zululand, the Transvaal, Ehodesia, Bechuanaland, and South- West Africa. It is essentially a forest-loving species ; it may be seen hunting for insects in small parties of four to twelve indi- viduals. Its chattering propensities are well known, and the noise a party of them create as they take wing when disturbed, is nothing short of deafening. This bird nests in holes in trees (usually " commandeered " from some other bird), and lays three eggs of a beautiful greenish- blue, minutely and sparsely speckled with whitish pin-points. The Scimitar-lull (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas) is smaller than the Kakclaar, glossy purple above and dull black below, and has a slender, very curved black bill. It is only found from immediately south of the Orange River, northwards. We discovered them in pairs along the Modder River in the Bloemfontein District, where they may be seen amongst the mimosas searching for the insects and spiders which form their staple diet. Mr. Austin Roberts, who took the eggs of this bird on the banks of the Vaal River, near Venterskroon, informs us they were four in number and of a beautiful verditer blue colour. He discovered them in a hole in the trunk of a mimosa tree on November 9, 1904. SWIFTS The Swifts (Cypselidw) are all exclusive insect feeders. South Africa possesses five species, two of which are oversea migrants, one (Cypselus apus) from Europe and the other (C. affinis) from India. 42 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST The White-bellied Swift (C. qfricanus) is the largest species in South Africa, and is of a mouse-brown colour with a white patch on the throat and another on the abdomen. Length of bird, 8 inches. Another well-known South African species is the White- rumped Swift (C. caffer), which is very much smaller than C. africanus ; it is more or less black in colour, with a white rump, chin and throat. It measures about (j\ inches in length. This bird usually nests in old Swallows' nests and lays two elongated white eggs. NIGHTJARS Amongst the Nightjar family (Caprimulgidce), or Goat- suckers as they are more often called (the Nachtuil or night- owl), we find some of the greatest insect destroyers. The members of this family are all of a mottled drab or brown colour and not easy of description, except by scientifically worded diagnoses. One member is a con- spicuous exception, this being the beautiful Standard- Winged Nightjar {Cosmetomis rc.r.iilarius). which has the ninth primary wing-feather elongated to something like three times the length of the bird. It is an inhabitant of the more tropical portions, ranging from Zululand northwards to Mashonaland and across to the northern parts of Damaraland, hut has been taken at Pretoria. In the neighbourhood of Grahamstown we should say the commonesl species is the South African Nightjar (( 'apri- mulgus pectoralis), of which we give two illustrations, both exhibiting the wonderful assimilative (and consequently protective) coloration possessed by these birds. In the MCHTJARS 43 Fig. 21. — South African Xightjar on its eggs.^ (Puzzle : Find the bird !) 44 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST large picture the bird is sitting on its eggs amongst the debris of leaves, twigs, &c, and can be located near the centre of the picture. Some searching will be necessary to find the bird, even in the photograph, so the degree of perfection to which the protective value of the plumage is developed in the living bird can well be imagined. The bird sits very close and still when incubating. In the case of the photograph of the Nightjar sitting on its eggs, three exposures were made extending over a period of ninety minutes, as it was thought that the bird might Fig. 22. — Young South African Nightjar. assume different positions, but it remained so still that no difference could be detected in the three exposures made. In the Central Transvaal the commonest species is the Eufous-cheeked Nightjar (C. rufigena), whose name serves to point out the bird's most distinguishing feature. The European Nightjar (C. europeus) wends its way to South Africa during our summer. The Nightjars lay two eggs on the ground without any attempt at nest-building, consequently the protective nature of the bird's coloration is of great benefit to the sitting parent. ROLLERS 45 ROLLERS The Boilers (Family Coraciidce) are chiefly remarkable for their beautiful many-tinted plumage. The first species is the European Boiler {Coracias garrulus), a regular visitor to Africa, migrating as far south as the Cape. The European Boiler breeds in South and Central Europe, and is blue below and cinnamon-brown above, with blue wings. In common with the next species it has no elongated outer tail-feathers. It is the only species which wanders as far south as the Cape. Length, 14 inches. The Purple Boiler (C. mosambicus) has a reddish-lilac under-surface streaked with white. Length, 14 inches. The beautiful Lilac-breasted Boiler (0. caudatus) is green, blue and brown, with the breast of a purplish-lilac tinge with white shaft-streaks, and the abdomen blue. It is easily distinguished by the lengthened outer tail-feathers, which are, however, not racquet-shaped at the ends like those of the succeeding species. This bird is not uncommon in the Transvaal bushveld. It is now protected by law in the Transvaal Province. Length, 14 inches to tip of longest tail-feather. The Bacquet-tailed Boiler (C. spaiulatus) is brown above with blue wings, and cobalt-blue below. It can be im- mediately distinguished by the expanded extremities of the outer tail-feathers. The Boilers are all mainly insect feeders. They nest in hollow trees and lay white eggs. They derive their name from their curious habit of occasionally rolling or turning over while in flight. The Cinnamon Boiler (Eurystomus afer) is cinnamon-brown above and lilac below, with blue wings and tail. Length, 10 \ inches. It is fairly common in Portuguese South-East Africa. 46 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST BEE-EATERS The Bee-eater Family (Meropidce) is perhaps a better known group in South Africa, being more widely distributed than the preceding family. The first species is the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), commonly known to the Boers as the Berg Zwaluw (Mountain Swallow). It is of a dark chestnut on the upper back, fading into pale cinnamon colour on the lower back and rump. Upper and least wing-coverts and fail green. Central tail-feathers lengthened and pointed. Throat yellow, followed by a black band and the remainder of the under-surface greenish-blue. Length to outer tail- feathers about 9| inches. It is a migrant from Southern Europe and Central Asia, arriving in October or November, and is somewhat evenly distributed over South Africa- during our summer, being, how- ever, scarce in the Eastern Cape Province. They hawk their insect prey on the wing, being very partial to bees and wasps. This bird is amongst the few northern migrants which breed in South x\frica as well as in the Northern Hemisphere. Eggs were taken by Jackson, W. Gr. Fairbridge, and !.. T. Griffin. It lays white eggs in holes bored in the bank of a donga or river (similar to the Kingfishers). There is another migratory species from oversea, this being the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater [M. persicus) from south- west Asia and north-west India. This species is slightly larger than the preceding, and differs in having the upper surface of a bright green colour, the cheeks dark blue, and the throat chestnut. The Carmine-throated Bee-eater (M. nitbicoides) may be considered one of the loveliest of South African birds. The top of the head is green, the centre of the hack and upper wing crimson, and the rump region bright cobalt-blue. BEE-EATERS 47 Below it is cherry-pink, except the abdomen and under tail-coverts, which are cobalt-blue. This beautiful bird is an inhabitant of the " low " countries and is never found elsewhere than in the neighbourhood of rivers. It ranges from Rustenburg in the Transvaal north- wards to Mashonaland and the Congo. The following account is taken from Captain Alexander's article in the 1900 volume of the Ibis. He met with a large flock of these liee-eaters roosting amongst the reeds bordering the Zambesi River: "... Soon a greal sight met our eyes. Shaking themselves free of the reeds these birds, some three hundred in number, and glorious in their feathered coats of scarlet, mounted into the air and were soon bathed in the last glows of a setting sun." The Little Bee-eater (Melittophagus meridionalis) is the smallest member of the family. It is green above and orange-fawn below, with a yellow chin and throat succeeded by a narrow strip of blue, followed by a broad black band on the chest. Length, 6| inches. It ranges from Natal and the Transvaal northwards to beyond the limits of South Africa. It is fairly common at Irene, south of Pretoria, where it frequents the mimosa scrub along the Hennops Biver. It may be seen sitting on a bush or wire fence, making occasional short darts into the air after insects. The White-fronted Bee-eater (M. bullockoides) can be easily recognised from the preceding > species by its con- siderably larger size, greyish-white forehead, and carmine-red throat. Length, 9 inches. This bird is exceedingly common along the Crocodile Biver north of the " Poort " (gate), in the Magaliesberg Bange (District Pretoria). During our visit in December, 1905, we had evidently 48 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST pitched our camp close to a clump of trees which had been their regular roosting-place, and the Bee-eaters were a distinct nuisance, circling round in the gathering gloom of eventide, uttering their harsh plaintive cries, which in their monotonous insistence are apt to get on one's nerves. We observed them sitting on the trees which lined the banks of the river, and hawking insects on the wing over the water, after the manner of swallows. WOODPECKERS The Woodpeckers (Picidce), being essentially insect- feeders, are true friends of the farmer, and as such we are Fig. 23. — Ground Woodpecker. glad to see they are protected in the Eastern Province of the Cape. They lay white eggs in holes in trees bored by themselves, WOODPECKERS 49 > > i y >k I 8 Fig. 24. — Ground Woodpecker at entrance to nest hole. 50 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST T3 £ gj Pa WOODPECKERS 51 excepting a solitary instance, the Ground Woodpecker (or, more strictly speaking, " Ground Pecker "), which excavates a hole in the bank of a river, donga or cutting. We give an illustration of one clinging to the entrance of its sub- terranean abode. This photo was taken in the vicinity of Fig. 26. — Knysna Woodpecker. Carlisle Bridge, Fish Eiver, in the District of Albany. The nest hole contained three young birds about two weeks old. In the neighbourhood of Grahamstown this bird is plentiful on a rocky hillside just outside the precincts of the town off the road to Featherstone Valley, where its weird whistling screech can be heard in the evening. Its tunnel usually runs straight into the bank for about 52 FRIENDS OF T^HE AGRICULTURIST two feet, then turns to the right or left and ends in a dome- shaped cavity about 6 inches in height. The bird usually chooses a point in the bank about a foot or 18 inches below the top, where the soil is moist from surface drainage and consequently easier to excavate. The Ground Woodpecker (Geocolaptes olwaceus) is olive- brown above, narrowly barred with white : rump, throat and breast washed with crimson ; remainder of under parts resembling the back. Length, about 11| inches. The Knysna Woodpecker (Campothera notata) has the top of the head crimson, back olive-green ; below pale yellow thickly spotted with black. Length, 8| inches. This bird seems to be confined to the Cape and Natal. The Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicus cardiualis) is the commonest and most widely distributed of the South African Woodpeckers. Hinder portion of crown crimson ; back olive-brown barred with white ; below greyish streaked on the breast and barred on the flanks with black. We have collected specimens at Port Alfred, Grahamstown and Uitenhage, in the Cape Province, Brandfort and Modeler Kiver in the Orange Free State, Irene, Modderfontein, near Johannesburg, and the Aapies Eiver (Waterval North) in the Transvaal. Mr. Harry Neethling recorded it from Parys, Orange Free State. It is a tamer bird than most of the other species, and we have frequently watched one, at a distance of only a few yards, creeping up tree-trunks with great celerity, indus- triously searching for insects. Length, 6 inches. The Olive Woodpecker (Mesopicus griseocephalus) is fairly common in the Eastern Province of the Cape, its habits not differing materially from those of the preceding species. It is of a plain ^oldon-olive above, top of fehe head, rump, and upper tail-coverts red, throat slatey. Length, 8| inches. BARBETS 53 The South African Wryneck (lynx ruficollis) is of a general speckled brown colour; chin, throat and upper breast chestnut. This bird is not common, and was forrnerty popularly supposed to be a migrant, but we have procured specimens during winter and summer. The tail of this bird does not resemble those of the Wood- peckers, but is soft and pliable like those of the Passerine birds. Length, 7 inches. Fig. 27. — South African Wryneck. The Wryneck nests in holes in trees, laying elongated white eggs. BARBETS The members of the family Capitonidce have stout and strong bills, thereby differing from the Woodpeckers which have a longer, thinner type of beak. They hew holes in trees and lay white eggs like the Wood- peckers, but have not stiff and spiny-like tail-feathers. The Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus) is perhaps the largest member of the family. It is brown above with 54 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST line yellow speckles ; head and throat scarlet ; back of head, a collar round the neck, and upper breast black. Below, yellow marked with greyish-black blotches and streaks. Length, 7| inches. Fig. 28. — Black-collared Barbet at nest hole. Its range extends from Grahamstown (where it is not uncommon) to the Zambesi Valley. Although an insect-feeder it will occasionally eat fruit. We took its eggs in the neighbourhood of Grahamstown and a1 Modderfontein, Transvaal. Its call is a peculiar loud trumpet-like sound consisting of several notes. The commonest of the South African species is the Pied Barbet (TricJiolcema leucoinelan), which is also fairly generally distributed excepting in Mashonaland and Natal. BARBETS 55 It is smaller than the preceding bird, has the crown red and the plumage black spotted with yellow ; throat black and rest of under-surface whitish. This bird has a con- spicuous eyebrow and a black streak through the eye, below which is a broad white stripe. Length, G-|- to G| inches. It is exceedingly common at Aliwal North, Cape Province, where it frequents the gardens and scrub on the banks of the Orange and Kraai Rivers. We also found this bird not un- common in the Albany kloofs and along the Modder River in the Orange Five Stale At Brandfort, Orange Free State and the Modderfontein Dynamite Factory they are quite common amongst the mimosa scrub, where their harsh cry — something like the blare of a toy trumpet (a single note only) — may be heard a I almost any time of the day. They breed in holes excavated by themselves in soft or decaying wood— a favourite site being a moderately thick mimosa bough. The little Cape Tinker bird (Barbatula pusilla) is fairly common around Grahamstown. Its yellow and black plumage with scarlet forehead, in addition to its small size— length, 5| inches— is enough to distinguish it from the Barbets. Its range is restricted to the Eastern Cape Province, Natal and Zululand. The Tinker bird also breeds in a hollow excavated in a decaying bough. In the vicinity of Grahamstown, the vertical bough of a Euphorbia is a favourite locality. The Yellow-fronted Tinker bird (B. exioni) replaces the above species in the Transvaal ; we found it not uncommon along the Crocodile River in the Bushveld north of the Magaliesberg (Pretoria District). It differs from the Southern variety in the possession of an orange-yellow forehead in place of the red one characteristic of pusilla. The Tinker birds derive their name from their loud metallic 56 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST Fro. 29. — Cape Tinker Bird at nest hole. COUCALS 57 call. They food chiefly on insects, varied hy a diet of berries and wild fruit. The Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus aifer) has a black crest and a red rump. The mottled yellow and black plumage is also suffused with red on the sides of the face and lower breast. Length, 7| to 8 inches. It is not uncommon in the region on the Crocodile River mentioned above, and appears to be fairly common through- out the Bushveld, and its habits do not differ from those of other Barbets. Its call is a rattling, creaky note, and it often indulges in peculiar contortions of the head and neck when calling to its mate. COUCALS The Coucals {Centrojpoclimv) form a subfamily of the Culculidce, but differ in several structural characters, besides the important fact that whereas the latter are birds parasitic upon other birds, the Coucals build their own nests and incubate their own eggs. There are seven species in South Africa, only four of which need concern us here. Two of these are the closely allied Black-headed Coucal (Centropus burchelli), and the White-browed Coucal (C. pymi, Roberts). Both birds are called the " Vlei Lourie " by the Boers. Both are rufous-brown above ; the tail greenish-black narrowly tipped with white (this is not always apparent in worn specimens) ; below buff-white. Burchelli has a glossy black head, with sometimes a few white feathers in front of the eye, forming the commencement of an eyebrow ; there are generally a few white shaft streaks on the neck. Pj/mi has a dark brown head with a distinct whitish eyebrow ; the nape, upper back and sides of neck are prof asely streaked with white shaft lines, many of the feathers being also edged v/ith black. Length, about 14| to 16 inches. 58 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST Fid. 30. — White-browcd Coucal at nest COUCALS 59 Professor Reichenow does not include South Africa within the geographical range of the true White-browed Coucal, fixating this bird as a purely Tropical species. Mr. Sclater (" Fauna of South Africa: Birds," vol. hi.) says that an example in the South African Museum from Swellendam agrees in every respect with another from Mombasa in British Easi Africa. Dr. (running and the writer examined the fine scries of skins of Centropus burchelli and C. superciliosus in the Transvaal Museum, and we had no hesitation in including the latter bird in the avifauna of the sub-continent. The South African bird has recently been separated under the name of G. pijmi by Roberts of the Transvaal Museum. Both species of birds have much the same geographical range, being found throughout the country in most of the Bush regions. The Ylri Louries — as the name implies — are fond of hunting the bush along rivers and \ leis, where they may be found singly or in pairs creeping about on the ground among the undergrowth. They live principally upon locusts, cater- pillars and other insects, thus rendering good service to the farming community. They have a characteristic cry of coo coo coo coo coo which sounds somewhat ventriloquial. The nest is domed, with an opening on one side, and is constructed of sticks ; it is usually placed in a thick bush not far from the ground. The eggs, three to five in number, are rather rounded in shape and pure white in colour. We give an illustration of G. pymi at its nest, originally published in the Ibis for 1901 and wrongly ascribed to burchelli. The distinct eyebrow characteristic of the former is very plainly seen in the photograph. I found the nest of C. burchelli in a small bush growing in a reedbed on the banks of the Aapies River in the Zoo grounds in November, 1918. It contained six rounded white eggs, the shells of which were somewhat opaque. 60 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST The Black-breasted Coucal (Centropus grilli), called by Mr. AV. L. Sclater the Natal Coucal (C. nigrorufus), seems to be not uncommon in the Lydenburg District of the Transvaal. It ranges from Natal through the Transvaal and Rhodesia over to the West Coast. It has the head and entire under- pays black, thus differing materially from the preceding species. Mr. J. C. Ingle has recently sent us a pair collected near Pilgrimsrest, Lydenburg District. It is much smaller than C. burchelli. The Green Coucal (Ceuthmochares australis) is easily dis- tinguishable from all the other species by its green colour. It extends along the east coast from British East Africa to Natal ; it is not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Durban, whence A. D. Millar records it as breeding in November. Length, 13 J inches. OWLS The Owls (Order Striges) number amongst them some of the farmers' most energetic friends, notwithstanding all manner of silly superstitions attached to them, and pertina- ciously believed in by the ignorant. They feed largely on mice, rats, insects of various kinds and occasionally on birds. The Striges are divided into two families, the Strigidce, containing two species of the Barn Owl type, and the Buho- nidce, a large group containing divers fori i is. The Barn Owl (Strix flammea) is a bird common to Europe and Asia. Professor Pieichenow, however, separated the South African bird under the name of Strix flavuma maculata. It is pearly-grey in colour, vermiculated with darker grey and spotted with brown above; dirty while below spotted with angular drop-shaped spots of brown. Length about 15j to Hi inches. It is known to the Boers as the Dood-vogel, from a popular belief that if one of these birds screeches on the roof of a house one of the inmates is sure to die. OWLS 61 It lays two to four oval white eggs in a hollow tree or in a hole in a wall. The Grass Owl (S. capensis) is of a much darker colour than the Barn Owl, being of a very dark brown above Fig. 31. — South African Barn Owl. relieved by a few scattered white dots. Below white spotted with rounded dots of dark brown. Length about 15| inches. This is nowhere a common bird, but has been recorded from the Cape, Natal, Basutoland and the Transvaal. We 62 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST Fig. 32 —Grass Owl OWLS 63 have procured specimens near Grahamstown, at Brandfort, Orange Free State and Modderfontein, Transvaal, where we have invariably found the bird haunting the "bush" and not the grass of the veld, so its vernacular name does not seem to be quite appropriate. It is, however, stated in Fig. 33.— White -faced Owls. " Stark and Sclater " to be commonly found amongst the grass and reeds bordering streams and marshes. The Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) is the first of the " eared " owls. It is dark brown above and paler below, marbled with pale brown above and mottled with white on the lower breast. Length, 14| to 15 inches. It is found in the long grass growing on the banks of 04 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST spruits or rivers, and in marshes, where it usually consorts in parties of from three to six individuals. We have found them common at Modderfontein, Transvaal. It nests on the ground in swampy growth, and lays two to four white eggs. Its food consists of lizards, mice, frogs and insects. The White-faced Owl (Asio leucotis) is of a mottled and streaky grey appearance above. Facial disc white with a strongly-marked black margin behind, which is clearly seen Fig. 34. — Young Cape Eagle Owl. in (he three individuals of our photograph. Below much like the back but of a more barred appearance ; abdomen and undertail coverts while narrowly barred with black. Length, 12 to 12| inches. It is found from the Orange River north- wards to Somaliland but, within our limits al any rate, seems nowhere very plentiful. We have seen it in the Pretoria District and the Bushveld. It lives on small rodents such as rats and mice, and insects such as locusts and grasshoppers. OWLS 05 o 03 pq 06 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST Fig. 36. — Cape Eagle Owl and nest, OWLS 67 68 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST The Bush Owl (Syrnium woodfordi) is a thorough bush- loving species ; we found it not uncommon in the bush near Grahamstown. It extends northward to British East Africa. The adult bird is dark brown above adorned with three- cornered white spots ; below, white barred with brown. No " ear " tufts. The young bird has the plumage shaded with tawny. It usually breeds in a hollow tree. Length, 14 to 14|- inches The Eagle Owls (Bubo) are the largest of the South African representatives of the Striges and are all " eared." The Cape Eagle Owl (Bubo capensis) is dark brown spotted with reddish-buff ; bill black. It measures about 19| inches in length ; wing, 14f inches. It nests in old nests of other birds, or in a nest of its own construction on the bank of a river, and lays two to four pure white eggs. It is confined to Cape Colony and Natal. The Spotted Eagle Owl (B. maculosus) is smaller than the preceding bird, but like it has a black bill. Length of wing, 12| inches. Total length, 20 inches. It is recorded from almost everywhere and is the commonest owl in the sub-continent. The cry of this bird is a thorough hoot, described by many as " ominous " ; it can be heard from the owl's position on the housetop — or in the bush. The senseless superstition that its cry is an augury of the death of some member of the household attaches as much to this Owl as to the Barn- Owl. It subsists on reptiles, frogs, insects, and mice and other small mammals, and is therefore of economic value to the farmer. It generally lays its eggs in a depression in the ground. We took several clutches of two eggs each from a nesting site on a rocky ledge in an old quarry, during the month of OWLS 69 October, at Modderfontein. They were rounded ovals of a pure white colour. The Giant Eagle Owl (B. lacteus) can easily be distin- guished from the other members of the genus by its pale Fig. 38.— Spotted Eagle Owl. ' horn "-coloured bill and its much larger size, being 28 inches in length, with a wing measurement of about 17 inches. It has, moreover, a more " streaked " appearance than either of the preceding species. It is rarer than the foregoing in S. Africa proper, but becomes commoner north 70 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST of the Zambesi River. We procured examples near the Kafue River. The very opposite to the preceding species is the Little Scops Owl (Scops capensis) which is only 7 inches in length. It is an " eared " species of a dark grey colour mottled with black, and occasional rusty markings. We have observed it in Albany and in the Pretoria District. At Modderfontein it is a scarce bird and affects the eucalyptus plantations. It has a peculiar habit of. clapping its mandibles together, making a loud clacking noise. It is almost wholly an insect-feeder. The little Pearl-spotted Owl (Glaucidium perlatum) is about the same size as the Scops Owl, but can easily be distinguished by the absence of ear tufts and the charac- teristic mottling of the upper surface — white spots edged with black. Length, 7 inches. It is common along watercourses, where it feeds on insects, varied by an occasional mouse or small reptile. It ranges from the Orange River northwards, but seems nowhere common. I have seen one or two on the Sand River in the Pretoria district every winter for some years past. KESTRELS Amongst the Falconidce there are many birds which are decidedly more useful than otherwise. The first of these useful species is the South African Kestrel (Cerctineis rupicolus), which is by far the commonest and best-known member of the genus. Head slate-colour streaked with black ; rump and tail slate-grey, the latter barred with black. Body of a general reddish-chestnut brown spotted with black. Length, 12| to 13 inches. It is a resident ami breeds either on a krantz, in old build- ings, or in trees. The eggs, which are generally three in KESTRELS 71 number, are cream-coloured, spotted and blotched with various .-hade? of brown. The Larger Kestrel (C. rwpicoloides) differs from the fore- going species in being paler above, the head uniform with 72 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST M KESTRELS 73 the back and its considerably larger size. Length, 14| inch< 3. It is. so far as we can ascertain, a " partial migrant," and is spread over the greater part of the African continent. We took a clutch of five eggs from the deserted nest of a Secretary Bird ; these varied considerably both in ground colour and in markings, but in the main resembled those of rwpicola, being, however, a little more elongated in shape, with a narrower diameter. The Lesser Kestrel (C. naumanni) is a migrant from Southern Europe, Northern Africa and Asia, where it breeds, arriving in South Africa about October. It is smaller than riqncola ; the male has the head, neck, rump region, tail and wings bluish-grey ; the back of a cinnamon colour without spots ; below paler than the back, with a few scattered spots. The female resembles that of rwpicola, but is without the blue head. Length, 12 to 13 inches. At Irene the Lesser Kestrel is very common during the summer months, but strange to say it is only an occasional visitor to Modderfontein (some 20 miles to the south). In Albany these birds are usually very scarce, but on one occasion the Division was visited by a large flock (probably a hundred of them) which took up its residence for a week in Belmont Valley, near Grahamstown. They were in the habit of flying round in circles during the day and roosting in some high eucalyptus trees at night. We had the camera focussed on a small dead tree which seemed a favourite perching place, with about 20 feet of tubing attached to the shutter. There were about thirty birds on the tree when a passing herd-boy cracked his whip, disturbing them before an exposure could be made. We were ultimately only able to obtain the accompanying picture 74 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST Fig. 41. — A pair of Lesser Kestrels. QUAILS 75 of a pair. The male is in the foreground, and the female is sitting with her back to the camera. The Eastern Red-legged Kestrel (C. amurensis) is readily distinguished from the oilier members of the genus by its dark slate-black colour and orange-red coloured legs. It is a migrant from China ami Japan, where it breeds, passing through India to South Africa. The Kestrels arc all gregarious at times, particularly the migratory species ; or when swarms of locusts are passing through a district. In the latter ease the Kestrels congre- gate into large flocks and follow the swarm, devouring large numbers of the locusts, and thus rendering invaluable aid to the agriculturist. We have also seen several of the species hawking flying ants on the wing. Besides locusts and ants Kestrels feed on lizards, mice, scorpions and spiders. Only one solitary case of mischief against a Kestrel has come under our notice during many years of collecting and observing. In dissecting a Larger Kestrel on October 14, 1906, we found in its stomach, besides ants, spiders and a lizard, the head and fragments of two full-grown Bar- breasted Finches (Ortygosjpiza poly zona). QUAILS The Quails are amongst the farmers' best friends, as they feed on weed and grass seeds, insects of various kinds and locusts. The Americans fully recognise the claims of the Quail to inclusion amongst the useful species, and in a pamphlet issued by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1905, the economic value of these birds is fully discussed. The following extract from Dr. C. H. Merriam's report admirably sums up the results arrived at : " Investigation shows the birds to be no less important in their economic than in their other relations to man. They are found to be 76 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST exceedingly valuable allies to agriculture because of the quantity of noxious insects and weed seeds they destroy, while the harm they do is insignificant. " Fig. 42. — Cape Quail, nest and eggs. Judging from our own experience of the two species in- habiting South Africa, we should say thai this is equally applicable to the local birds. Regarding the Quail as a locust destroyer, the investiga- tions of Mr. Thomsen, the then Chief Locust Officer of the GUINEA FOWL 77 Transvaal Department of Agriculture, are both instructive and interesting. He considers these little gamebirds " great locust-eaters," and is rightly opposed to their being bagged in hundreds by reckless sportsmen. The Cape Quail (Coturnix africana) — the Kwartel of the Dutch — does not need any description, being too well known throughout the length and breadth of the land. It is an irregular migrant, appearing and disappearing very suddenly. It lies very close, rising suddenly with a " whirr" of the wings, and after a short but rapid flight settles as suddenly. It nests in long grass, or more generally in grain fields, consequently many nests are destroyed by the reapers. The number of eggs in a clutch varies from five to ten, and may occasionally be as many as a dozen ; they are of a yellowish- brown or brownish-yellow colour sometimes, spotted, but more generally heavily blotched with liver- brown and pale- brown. The male of the second and last species (the Harlequin Quail — G. delagorguei) is easily recognisable by the black throat and bright dark chestnut under parts, relieved by a large black patch in the centre of the breast. The female has the throat white and the lower surface chestnut mottled with black. This species is similar to the Cape Quail in habits. A great influx into Mashonaland occurred in 1901 and 1902, an account of which was communicated to the Proceedings of the Rhodesia Scientific Association by Mr. Tredgold. GUINEA FOWL Birds of almost equal economic value in South Africa are the Guinea Fowl (Numida). 78 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST Here again we must quote Mr. Thomsen. In the Journal of the South African Ornithologists Union, he gives a succinct account of its usefulness as a locust destroyer, asserting that not only does it devour both the mature insects and voetgangers, but it also scratches up and eats large numbers of their eggs. He instances cases in which he personally observed flocks of wild Guinea fowl surrounding and devouring swarms of voet- gangers. The Guinea fowl also feeds on roots and weed seeds, besides other insect pests such as termites and the like. It is credited with doing damage to newly sown fields and to ripening crops, but the good it does probably outweighs the harm. In its black plumage, speckled all over with round dots of white, naked head and neck and a bony helmet, it is a familiar bird to nearly every South African. The Squeakers — as the young flying birds of the year are called — are void of the helmet, the top of the head being longitudi- nally striped with pale rufous and dull black. The feathers of the body have also a shade of tawny here and there. It is exceedingly common in the tracts of bush-country from the Eastern Cape Province northwards to the Zambesi. In the neighbourhood of Brandfort, Orange Free State, it is very plentiful amongst some of the mimosa belts and forms a favourite item in the sportsman's bag. It is now also common in the eucalyptus plantations on the Rand. In the Eastern Cape Province the Crowned Guinea fowl is a bird that will appear and gradually increase in a, neighbour- hood for some years, and then suddenly die out. Prom the examination of specimens shot, the cause of the disappear- ance is probably partial extermination by the Wire-worm so common in ostrich veld. About ten years ago these birds were plentiful in the immediate neighbourhood of Grahams- GUINEA FOWL 79 town : prior to that they had aol been seen for soniu years. Recently they have gradually increased again. The nest photographed was taken at Belmont, and while exposing the plate several young actually hatched out. Before many hours had elapsed the whole brood had left the nest. Fig. 43. — Crowned Guinea fowl, nest and eggs. The Guinea fowl lays its eggs, pale brown in colour thickly speckled with darker pin-points, in a depression in the ground under a small bush or tuft of long grass. It runs swiftly and does not rise very readily, conse- quently shooting it in thick thorn bush is often no easy 80 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST matter, as plenty of hard running and a little strategy is necessary to procure it. If the Hock can be scattered and the cover is good, excellent sport can be obtained with the help of good dogs. It takes readily to confinement and is often found on the la in is in a domesticated condition. ■i^ ^-** Fig. 44. — Guinea fowl Chicks hatching out. The ordinary lame farmyard bird differs in ha\ ing a white breast, white wing quills, and in its smaller size. The Crested Guinea fowl (Guttera edouardi) has the very distinguishing characteristic of a large tuft of curly black feathers on the crown. It is only found in a few of the forest districts north of Durban, whence n extends northwards to the Zambesi. It is a denizen of t hick bush. GUINEA FOWL 81 Before closing our chapter on the friends of the agri- culturist, a few remarks on the protection of birds might not be out of place. Some— the Locust-birds proper — should be absolutely protected by law, but as regards the Guinea fowl, Francolin and Bustards, the question is a more difficult one. Some enthusiasts would suggest that these birds be also placed under the above enactment, but what about the " Sportsman " ? He will surely protest most vehemently against such an action, and with reason. We think that a compromise might be a rational solution of the difficulty, viz. that although these birds may be shot for sport, they should not be allowed for purposes of barter. They should be prohibited from the stock-in-trade of the game shops. This would in a great measure stem the tide of destruction, as no true sportsman would butcher birds he knew were of distinct economic value, and the few — in comparison — shot merely for sport would not make any appreciable difference. Legislation is no doubt necessary, but to make it thoroughly satisfactory and workable the public must be educated up to a knowledge of the usefulness of our little feathered friends. [Since these lines were penned some years ago, the Bustards, Coursers, Lapwings, and Thick-knees have been entirely protected by law on account of their utility to agriculture.] CHAPTER III THE FARMER'S FOES STARLINGS First in order of classification comes the Spreeuw, or Pied Starling (Spreo bicolor), which is very common throughout South Africa, excepting the Natal littoral and the South- West territory. It feeds chiefly on insects, but during the fruit season creates enormous havoc amongst the fruit crops, notably figs. They are so destructive in some districts that, unless strong measures are taken, hardly a ripe fig remains to be fathered. With a bird of this description it is exceedingly difficult to know where to place it. It has no beauty in its brown plumage (which has, however, bronzy reflections in the sun), and white abdomen, and does probably quite as much good in destroying insect pests as harm by devouring figs and oilier fruit. However, to the fruit farmer, and the householder who possesses a few fruit trees, it is an undoubted nuisance, so we perforce include it in this chapter. The Pied Starling nests in holes and dongas, prospecting pits, and walls, or under stones, and lays from four to six greenish-blue eggs during the months of August to October. Dr. Stark says the eggs are occasionally marked with reddish- brown. The Red-winged Starling (Amydrus mono), or Rooivlerk Spreeuw, is glossy blue-black with reddish-chestnut primary wing leathers. The female has a brownish head. 82 STARLINGS 83 Fig. 45. — J. R. Ivy climbing to nest of Red-wing Spreeuw. 84 THE FARMER S FOES It is gregarious in habits and a great fruit thief, but feeds largely on caterpillars and insects. It builds in krantzes, laying three to five blue-green eggs marked with a few Fig. 46. — Red-wing Starling at nest. red-brown blotches. It has a peculiar whistle which is often emitted while the bird is flying. It has invaded the Zoo grounds of recent years, and has bred in the topmost niches of the Marks Fountain. WEAVER-BIRDS Amongst the Weaver- Birds (Ploceidce) there are several species of gregarious habits, which do a large amount of damage to the ripening grain crops. These are notably Quelea quelea (Pink-billed Weaver), which is easily recognised even in winter by the pink colour of the bill- the Ked Bishop Bird (Pyromelana oryx), and the Long-tailed Widow Bird (Diatropura jirocne). BULBULS 85 In the Maroka District of the Orange Free State and parts of Basutoland, where these birds are exceedingly common, the natives build mounds of turf sods at various points of vantage in the fields, from whence lumps of clay are thrown with switches to scare away the feathered marauders. Shouting and the beating of empty tins is also resorted to. We will treat of them more fully under the heading of " Bird Architects." BULBULS The true Bulbuls (Pycnonotus), of which South Africa Fig. 47. — Cape Bulbul at nest. possesses four species, live almost exclusively on fruits and berries, so they can hardly be termed anything but 86 the farmer's foes enemies of the farmer. Indeed, their depredations to the tig and apricot crops in the Transvaal are beyond forbearance, as they present themselves directly the fruit commences to ripen, and devour all those which ripen first, just as the fruit is •' on the turn." and scarcely fit yet for human con- sumption. These Bulbuls are the favourite hosts of the Jacobin. Black and White, and Crested Cuckoos. Although great fruit eaters, they are the first birds to warn one of the proximity of a snake, and they consume a fair amount of insects, especially when feeding their young. We can do no better than give an excerpt of the key by Dr. E. Hartert, in " Novitates Zoologies1. " (" On the African forms of the Genus Pycnonotus ") : — I. Pycnonotus barbatus. Eyelid feathered. a. P. b. tricolor. South- West Africa — North to the Congo. (Under tail-coverts yellow ; crown brown.) 6. P. b. layardi. Eastern Cape Colony, northwards to Lake Nyassa. (Under tail-coverts yellow ; crown black.) II. Pycnonotus capensis. Eyelids protruding, wattle-like. a. P. c. capensis. Southern parts of Cape Colony. (Eyelid mostly whitish ; underside brownish, paler in the middle of the abdomen.) b. P. r. nigricans. Central Cape Colony, northwards to Transvaal in the East and Benguda in the West. (Under-surface, except throat, whitish ; crown black. Eyelid bright reddisb, or " chrome-orange.") These birds are of a general dark brown colour above and are known by various " local " or vernacular names, such as " Tiptol " in the Eastern Cape, " Geelgat " or " Kuifkop " of the Dutch, " Topknot " or " Black Head " in Natal. It is also occasionally called the " Blackcap." MOUSEUIKDS 87 MOUSEBIRDS The Mousebirds, or Colics (Family Coliidce), are as bad at fruit-thieving as the Bulbuls, if not more so, and devour large quantities of apricots, plums, peaches, the Central Transvaal, where the writer has had personal experience of its depredatory habits. In the first- mentioned country it is so destructive to the Kaffir corn and Fig/65.— The home of the Red Bishop-Bird. (Photo. Haagner.) wheat crops that it has earned the undying enmity of the Barolong natives, who trap and kill it wherever and when- ever they can. It nests in the reed-beds which border the spruits (rivulets), many hundreds of nests being congre- gated together in a space of as many square feet. It is not an uncommon sight to see two or three nests suspended between a single pair of reeds. The nest is shaped like a 120 BIRD ARCHITECTS pouch with a domed opening at the side near the top, and is usually constructed of strips torn from the leaves of the reeds. It lays three or four eggs of a beautiful deep greenish- blue colour and rather pyriform in shape. To see several hundred of these birds flitting about the reeds on a bright sunlit day is a glorious sight, the habit they have of fluffing out the feathers giving a brilliance and intensity of colour to the vivid red and glossy black, of which the prepared skin exhibits but little trace. Its smaller congener, the Golden Bishop (P. taha), is not nearly so common. In its beautiful golden-yellow and glossy black plumage it looks like a ball of gold as it flits over the marshy, weed-covered patches in which it delights to make its home, fluffing up its feathers and emitting its grating, chirp-like call. It builds a similar nest to that of the Eed Bishop, constructing it, however, chiefly of fine grass, and placing it amongst the rank weeds. It lays four to six eggs of a white ground colour spotted with tiny dots of very dark brown. This species is not found in the Cape Province. It is somewhat " local " in distribution, appearing in certain locali- ties in fair numbers one season and being almost unknown there the next. It is fairly common in the Pretoria District. The Cape or Yellow Bishop-Bird (P. capensis) and its two sub-species are larger birds than the Golden Bishop, ;mk1 differ in having the top of the head black instead of this region being yellow, as is the case with the Golden Bishop. The sub-species (P. c. approximans) inhabiting the eastern Cape Province, northwards, is smaller than the western form, while the northern form is intermediate in size between the two, and lias, moreover, black thighs (P. c. xantliomelcuna). The males of this genus change their summer plumage by abrasion into a dull brown colour during the winter BISHOP AND WIDOW-BIRDS 121 months, more in keeping with the leafless reeds and dried- up veld. The females are always of this dull colour. Fig. 66. — Cape Bishop-Bird near nest. The genus Coliopasser also presents us with some well- known forms, chief amongst these being the Long-tailed Widow-Bird (Coliopasser procne), known in Natal as the 122 BIRD ARCHITECTS Fig 67 —Nest of Red-collared Widow Bird. BISHOP AND WIDOW-BIRDS 123 Sakabula. In its breeding garb of glossy black, orange-red epaulettes, and long heavy tail gracefully curved, the male is a conspicuous ornament of the veld almost anywhere in South Africa, excepting western Cape Province. Length, 23 inches (male), 7 inches (female). It builds a dome- shaped nest of grass in a tuft of the same, and lays three eggs of a bluish-white, thickly marked with dark and purplish- brown and greyish blotches and spots. The Red-collared Widow-Bird (C. ardens) is smaller than the preceding species, has no red epaulettes, but is cha- racterised by an orange-scarlet collar across the upper breast. Length, 12| inches. Like the Pyromelana, both these species are polygamous in habits, one male consorting with from six to a dozen females. The latter are plain brownish birds. The sprightly little Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua serena) is also a well-known figure in its pied plumage of black and white, long narrow tail, and pink bill. It is known to the boys as the Koning Rooibekje (King Bed-bill). The breed- ing habits of this bird have long been a mystery to ornith- ologists, owing to the fact that it is a fairly common bird in South Africa, and yet only one or two unsatisfactory observations have been recorded. Mr. Austin Roberts, the ornithologist and collector, thinks, however (Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union, June, 1907), that he has solved the problem. He considers the species parasitic, and that they deposit their eggs in the nests of other birds, chiefly species of the Estrildinoe. This has since been confirmed by other observers. The Shaft-tailed Widow-Bird (Vidua regia) is black above, and yellowish below : the four centre tail-feathers being lengthened and only webbed for the final 2 or 3 inches, the 124 BIRD ARCHITECTS rest of the shaft being bare. Length, 4| inches ; to end of long tail-feathers, 12 inches. The Paradise Widow-Bird (Vidua jjaradisea) is also black above, with a collar round the neck and the breast bright chestnut-red. Total length, 14f inches. Females of both these birds are brownish birds streaked with blackish. SUNBIRDS The next group of Architects is the Sunbirds (family Nectarinidw), sometimes called Sugar-birds, and Zuikerbekjes (Sugar-mouths) by the Boers. They live on nectar, pollen and insect life. Perhaps the best known species is the bright metallic- green Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa). with its yellow shoulder (pectoral) tufts, and long tail-feathers. Length of male, 9| inches ; female, 6 inches. This bird changes to a dull brown colour during the winter months, which is the garb of the female bird at all seasons. It is a common species throughout South Africa, excepting Lower Natal and Rhodesia, where it is scarce and local. In spring the males may sometimes be heard indulging in a short, soft song of full melodious notes. It builds a large pear-shaped nest of grass and fibres bound with cobwebs and vegetable down, and lined with hair and feathers, &c. The two eggs are of a pale brown colour, closely marked with dots and blotches of dark brown and greyish. The Bifasciated Sunbird (C. mariquensis) has the head, neck, throat and back metallic-green : below the throat there is a narrow cross-band of steel-blue, succeeded by a much broader one of dark red ; rest of under surface black. Length, 4|- inches. This bird is not found in Cape Province. We observed it in pairs on the Crocodile River, north of the SUNBIRDS 125 Fig. 68. — Malachite Sunbird at nest. 126 BIRD ARCHITECTS Magaliesberg in the Pretoria district. It is common in the National Zoological Gardens in March. In this locality we found the White-Breasted Sunbird (C. leucogaster) by far the commoner species. Indeed, the Fig. 69. — Double-collared Sunbird : female at nest. latter bird was seen in parties of three to six individuals during the last week in December, 1906, exploring the native trees, then laden with fruit, for insects, and diligently sucking the blossoms of a parasitic plant then in bloom. In the Albany district of Cape Province the commonest SUNBIRDS 127 species is the Greater Double-collared Sunbird (C. ajer), easily distinguished by its larger size and by almost the whole breast being bright scarlet, which is divided from the green throat by a narrow band of steel-blue. Length, &\ inches. It is a bird which may be found either in the bush-clothed kloofs, the gardens and orchards, or more open bushy stretches. The nest is a somewhat circular structure with a domed side entrance, and is cither fixed to the end of a fairly short mimosa twig, or suspended from a thin twig in a kloof. On January 5 we took a very neat nest built in the centre of a pendent bunch of ptylandsia, which is now in the Transvaal Museum. There is another common species, closely resembling the foregoing in coloration, but is smaller (length. 5 inches), the Lesser Double-collared Sunbird (('. chalybeus), which is not so common as the larger bird in Albany, but at Port Alfred the position is reversed, the smaller species being by far the predominant one. Both these " Collared " species lay grey eggs thickly mottled with slate colour and brown, those of the latter bird being naturally smaller. The Scarlet-chested Sunbird (C. gutturalis), in its plumage of velvety-black, and scarlet chest and lower throat, is perhaps one of the loveliest Sunbirds in South Africa. It is common in Zululand and Natal, and at Warmbaths, Transvaal. The Black Sunbird (C. ametiiystinus) is of a velvety-black with the crown of the head metallic-green, and the throat and cheeks, shoulders, and upper tail-coverts metallic- purplish-violet with a coppery sheen. Like the scarlet-chested Sunbird, this species is par- ticularly fond of the bright red blossoms of the Kaffirboom 128 BIRD ARCHITECTS Fig. 70.— Nest of Black Sunbird. (Photo. A. D. Millar.) SUNBIRDS 129 (Erytlirina caffra). Its msl does not differ to any marked extent from the other species,and the eggs are cream-coloured, streaked and blotched with purple-brown and slate-grey. It is not uncommon around Grahamstown, Cape Province, and in Johannesburg, Transvaal. The Mouse-coloured Sunbird (C. verreauxi) is, as its name implies, of an ashy- brown colour above and below with pectoral tufts of bright red. Its range is rather limited, being so far only recorded from Eastern Cape Province, Natal and Zululand. In Albany it was formerly fairly common, but of late years has become somewhat scarce. We were lucky enough to take two nests on January 5, 1907, in a thickly wooded kloof off Featherstone Valley, near Grahamstown. These were both untidy-looking pendent structures of grass, decorated all over with dead leaves stuck on with cobwebs and lined with vegetable down and feathers. The nest is almost invariably hung from a branch close to a krantz (cliff). The eggs are so thickly mottled and blotched with chocolate and purplish- brown as to appear at first sight of a general rich brown colour ; they are the prettiest of all the Sunbird eggs. The Orange- breasted Sunbird (Anthobaplies violacea) is metallic- purple on the chest and has the rest of the under parts of an orange-yellow, the breast being tinged with red It is confined to Cape Province, ranging as far east as Albany. It breeds in winter, building an oval, dome-shaped nest in a tuft of heath, and lays two eggs of a white ground, marked with grey-brown. The last representative of the family is the tiny Collared Sunbird (Antliothrejites collar is), which is green above and yellow below, the yellow being separated from the green throat by a band of violet. 130 BIRD ARCHITECTS Fig. 71. — Male, female, and nest of Black Sunbird. PENDULINE TITS 131 We found them fairly common in the Albany kloofs during January, 1907, and discovered several nests, which were like smaller editions of the Mouse-coloured Sunbird's nest, but they were invariably hung from a low branch near to a water-rill. The eggs number two, and are of a whitish colour thickly marked with greyish-brown. The females of all the Sunbirds are much plainer and duller coloured than their mates. PENDULINE TITS We next come to a family of birds, the Tits (Paridce), which contains in the genus Mgithalus two species of tiny birds which may lay claim to being two of the neatest little architects of the avian world. They will probably be more easily distinguished from one another from the following extract of a diagnosis of Dr. Sharpe's in the Ibis for 1904 : — A. Breast darker and dull ochreous ; upper surface dark ashy, dark olivaceous on the rump and upper tail-coverts M. minutus. B. Breast light sulphur-yellow, slightly darker in old birds, light grey on head verging into light olive- greenish, becoming more sulphur-yellow on the rump and upper tail-coverts M. smithi. The first is confined to the Cape Province south of the Orange River, the second being the form inhabiting the Transvaal, Mashonaland and Damaraland. These dainty little birds, called Kappoc-vogel (meaning cotton-wool bird) by the farmers, build a neatly woven nest of the downy seed of plants (in sheep districts wool is utilised) felted together into distinct layers, until a strong, cloth-like structure of a domed shape with an opening at the side is completed. This is quite rainproof and exceedingly warm and cosy. Below the actual opening there is generally a blind opening in the shape of a shallow pouch, which the natives assert is used by the male as a roosting-place. When 132 BIRD ARCHITECTS the birds leave the nest they pinch the walls of the opening together, and at a time when such is the case, the blind opening would naturally act as a decoy to any marauding snake or field-rat, which might be as good an explanation as the one offered by the blacks. The Penduline Tits lay from six to twelve tiny white eggs. Fig. 72.— Nest of Cape Penduline Tit. (Photo. Dr. Kirkman.) SWALLOWS It will now be necessary to make a big jump so far as classification is concerned and turn to the Family Hirun- dinidce (Swallows), whose nests of mud pellets are a familiar enough sight to all. SWALLOWS 133 The Bock-Martin (Ptyonoprogne faligula) is a brown bird with the tail-feathers, excepting the centre and two outer ones, adorned by a circular white spot on the inner web. Length, 5| inches. \ 1 SJnE i ■ . B ' S 1 d ■ ^hH / ! l^t KPtt* Fig. 73. — Nest (top one) of White-throated Swallow. It is not found north of the Transvaal, nor in South-west Africa, but is otherwise fairly evenly distributed. It builds an open half-cup-like nest against a rock or under the eaves of a house, of mud pellets, and lays three or 134 BIRD ARCHITECTS four eggs of light cream spotted with various shades of brown. The European Swallow (H. rustica) does not breed in South Africa, being a migrant from Europe, arriving here between September to November, and departing again during March or April. It is blue above and whitish below. The throat and forehead are of a rufous colour. Fig. 74. — Pearl-breasted Swallow on nest. The White-throated Swallow (H. albigidaris) is dark blue above, except the forehead, which is reddish, below white except a broad band of blue across the chest. It is at once distinguishable from the European Swallow (which it rather closely resembles) by its white throat. Length, 6| inches. It is also a migrant, arriving about the same time as the European Swallow — usually earlier — but breeds in South SWALLOWS 135 Africa, making a cup-shaped nest of mud on a beam of an outhouse, or under an overhanging bank or rock, and lays three or four eggs of a white ground spotted with pinkish- brown and yellowish. The Pearl-breasted Swallow (H. dimidiata) is smaller than the preceding species, and has no red on the forehead. It builds a cup-shaped nest against a rock or wall. The Larger Stripe- breasted Swallow (H. cucullata) and its smaller congener (H. paella) are blue above and have the head and rump of a brick-red colour : whitish below streaked with brown shaft-stripes. The latter bird differs from the former in being smaller, the shaft-streaks being broader and the lower back and rump being darker red. Length, 7f inches. Both construct mud nests of a globular shape with a long entrance tunnel, the larger species preferring a beam in an outhouse, or a skirting-board on a verandah, whereas the smaller bird usually places its smaller nest under an overhanging rock. They lay pure white eggs. The Eed-breasted Swallow (H. semirufa) is easily recog- nisable by its entire under surface being of a rich chestnut colour. It constructs a nest much like that of the Stripe-breasted Swallow, and lays white eggs. We have taken the eggs from culverts or from antbear holes. The Cliff-Swallow (Petrochelidon spilodera) is the last representative of the family. It somewhat resembles the Lesser Stripe-breasted Swallow in coloration, but has a white chin, and pale reddish throat followed by a blackish band with white spots ; rest of under surface white, except the vent regions, which are reddish. Fig. 75. — Nest of Lesser Stripe- breasted Swallow. (Bird just emerging.) Fig. 76. — Nest and eggs of Cisticola ruficapilla. WARBLERS 137 This is a common bird in the Orange Free State, where i! usually builds in colonies against the walls of houses. At Brandfort Station a large number of nests were usually to be found clustered against the goods shed, but lately the officials have taken exception to their presence and destroy the nests as fast as they are built. The nest is constructed of mud, and globular in shape, with an entrance hole near the top, and has no tunnel. Fig. 77.— Breeding Colony of Cliff Swallows. (Photo. R. Chambers.) Eggs three in number, and white in coloration, speckled and blotched with red-brown and purplish-black. All the Swallows are insect feeders, subsisting chiefly on flies, mosquitoes and the like. WARBLERS Amongst the members of the Family Sylviidce there are many unassuming, sombrely plumaged little birds possessed of more than ordinary architectural skill. 138 BIRD ARCHITECTS First of all comes the Green-backed Bush- Warbler (Cama- roptera olivacea), or Tailor-Bird, as it is appropriately called in Grahamstown. It is olive-green on the upper parts, except the crown of the head, which is grey, the latter being also the colour of the under parts, excepting the centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts, which are white. It inhabits the thick bush and forest regions, ranging from George in the Cape Province eastwards and northwards. It constructs a neat purse or semi-dome-shaped nest of fibres and fern stems lined externally with moss and in- ternally with vegetable down. It is situated in a low thick bush, and has the leaves in the immediate vicinity of the nest stitched to it with line fibre-like flax from seed-pods, &c, and cobwebs. It lays three pure white eggs. This Warbler is sometimes called the Bush-goat on account of the plaintive goat-like call which the bird gives utter- ance to. The Crombec (Sylviella nifescens), known to the farmers as the Stomp-stertjo (Stump-tail), is ash-grey above and tawny- buff below. Its range is extensive, the bird being found throughout the Cape, to the Transvaal, Zululand, Mashona- land and South- West Africa. It frequents the mimosa scrub, building a pretty pendent nest of dry stalks and leaves, woven together with cobwebs, and lays two or three white eggs with a ring of brown and purple spots round the blunt end. The Black-chested Wren-Warbler (Prinia flavicans) is brown above, eyebrow, throal and cheeks white, under surface lighl yellow, with a dark brown band across the breasl . It builds a Light, artistic, oval-shaped nest of fine grass, beautifully woven, with a domed side entrance near the top, HAMMERHEAD 139 lining it with white vegetable down. The eggs — usually three in number — are pale bluish-green in colour, marked with reddish-brown, but they vary considerably in colour, like those of many of the Warblers. The Cisticolce (Grass Warblers) are a large group not easily distinguished from one another by the tyro ; they build circular or oblong-shaped nests woven of grass, warmly lined with down or wool, much after the style of the Widow- Birds. For more information on this extremely difficult group we must refer the reader to the text-books. HAMMERHEAD We now come to the last species we will deal with in this chapter, viz. the Hammerhead (Scopus umbrella), usually called the Hammerkop or Paddavanger (Frog-catcher) by the South African. In its characteristic brown garb, crested head and long legs, it is a familiar figure along the shores of water-courses, vleis and dams, where it may be found singly or in pairs cutting its queer capers, or on the prowl for frogs and small fish. It constructs a huge nest of sticks and mud ; first a saucer-shaped foundation about 3 feet in diameter is built of large sticks thrown together and cemented with mud, either on a rock by the side of a stream, or more frequently in the fork of a tree. Upon this foundation a circular dome- shaped structure is erected, containing a round chamber (sometimes two). It is a solid compact structure, with a round entrance hole just large enough to admit the bird, usually situated on the most inaccessible side. The top is often decorated with old tins, rags, bits of plank, and we have even found dead birds, old bits of skin, &c. Whether 140 BIRD ARCHITECTS o HAMMERHEAD 141 this is to hide the real identity of the nest from above is difficult to say. There is a large nest in a fork of a willow- tree about 25 feet from the ground at the Dynamite Factory, Modderfontein, which has been made use of year by year for the last seven or eight years. This measures about Fig. 79. — A pair of young Hammerheads. 4 feet by 3| feet, and is sufficiently strong to easily bear the weight of a fairly heavy man. The Hammerhead lays three or four eggs of a dull white, sometimes marked with a few pale brown blotches, which, however, may be stains. Eggs may be looked for during the months of October and November. 142 BIRD ARCHITECTS Fig. 80. — Nest of Hammerhead in a tree. (Photo- E. H. U Draper.) CHAPTER V DENIZENS OF THE FOEEST This is a large group presenting divers forms, and includes some of the loveliest as well as some of the strangest of South African birds. In this chapter are included all the dwellers of forest and bush, excepting those that find a place under more special headings, such as "Friends of the Agriculturist," "Bird Architects," &c. CANARIES AND SEEDEATERS To the group belong most of the Family Frvngillidce amongst which the majority of the native songsters are found ; as these birds are perhaps of more general interest than any other in the group, we will treat of them first. It is quite a common belief amongst Europeans fresh from the old countries that South Africa possesses no song birds worthy the name. This is wholly incorrect, for although there is no Skylark or Nightingale, South Africa possesses quite an array of good songsters. The first, and probably favourite songster of the Family is the Cape Canary (Serinus canicollis), the male of which is of a greenish-yellow colour on its upper surface, with the rump regions of a brighter yellow and the under surface of a golden yellow. The female is browner on the back and paler below. Length, 5\ inches. It is a common resident in most districts of the Cape and Natal, but in the Orange Free State and Transvaal it is ud common and " local." This bird has a fine sustained song of sweet full notes, the quality of which varies, however, in individual members. 143 144 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST o d o +3 w 5 o3 .4 P4 a CANARIES AND SEEDEATERS 145 It lives principally on weed seeds and insects, thus being useful as well as ornamental and a songster. It builds a neat little cup-shaped nest and lays three or four eggs of a very pale blue, streaked and spotted at the obtuse end with purple and reddish-brown. It takes readily to confinement, being hardy and can be bred in captivity ; it is in consequence much sought after Fig. 82. — Cape Canary at nest. by the schoolboys of the Eastern Districts of the Cape, who made a regular traffic in the catching and selling of Canaries before the Wild Birds' Protection x\ct of 1899 was in operation. [Unfortunately no clause was inserted allowing the collection of birds for scientific purposes.] This Act was largely due to the praiseworthy efforts of the late genial and sporting magistrate of Grahamstown, Mr. Francis Graham. The Large Yellow Seedeater (Serinus sulphuratus), the " Geel-seisje " and " Bully " of the Colonial boys, and its smaller congeners, the Kleine Seisjes (S. flaviventris and S. marsJialli) make handsome cage-birds in their greenish- L 146 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST yellow and bright golden yellow colours. The Northern form (S. marshalli) is extremely common around Bloem- fontein and Brandfort in the Orange Free Slate, and it is a pretty sight to see a small flock of these birds consisting of some half-dozen males with a like number of their sombre- coloured spouses flitting about amongst the mimosas in the bright sunlight. Although not such a renowned songster as the Cape Canary, it has a lively though simple song, and in its richly tinted garb makes truly a charming cage-bird. Another pretty little species is the Icterine Seedeater (S. icterus), which is the common form in the Central Trans- vaal, being fairly plentiful from the Modderfontein Dynamite Factory through Irene and Pretoria to the " Bushveld." It is lively, tame and of confiding habits, and has a charming melodious song with full flute-like notes, hence it is often caught and even exported over-sea as a cage-bird. It is prettily marked in yellow, green and black. Its conspicuous yellow eyebrow and yellow band on the forehead is sufficient to distinguish it from the other species of the genus. Hence the name by which it is commonly known in the Pretoria District (viz. " Yellow-eye "). Length, 4| inches. A vastly different bird is the sombre-plumaged White- throated Seedeater (»S'. albigularis) called " Dik-bek Seisje " or " Berg-seisje " by the Colonial boys. It is of an ashy- brown colour streaked on the back with darker brown. Fore cheeks, throat and abdomen white. Length, 6-J inches. It has a loud musical song which is by some critics even preferred to that of the Cape Canary. Another good little songster is the Yellow-rumped Seed- eater (or " Black-throated," as it is usually called — S. angolensis), which is pale huffish-brown with a blackish throat and yellow rump. Length a little over 4-£ inches. It is exceedingly common in the Brandforl and Kroonstad CANARIES AND SEEDEATERS 147 Districts, Orange Free State, and Pretoria District, Trans- vaal, in which latter locality it is known as the " Bergie." It is usually found in small flocks, or in pairs. A favourite little songbird is the dainty little Mountain Canary (Alario alario) familiarly called the " Black-head '' by the schoolboys of the Eastern Cape Province. It thrives Fig. 83. — Mountain Canary. readily in captivity, is of gentle habits, and inter-breeds with the Cape and Common Canaries. It is essentially a Cape Province bird, but ranges into Great Namaqualand, and the Orange Free State as far north as Bloemfontein. The males are of a chestnut-red above with part of the wing and entire head black ; the sides of the neck and under surface white excepting the throat and centre of breast which is black, forming a " tie." Length about 4| to 4f inches. 148 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST It has a very sweet and softly modulated song. It builds a neat cup-shaped nest in a low hush and lays from three to five eggs of a pale blue-green colour, spotted at the large end with red-brown. I'm;. 84.- Streaky-headed Seedeater at nest. A songster of no mean merit is tin ^tnaky-headed Seed- eater (Poliospiji gularis), a dull greyish-brown coloured bird will i a darker brown head striped with white on the crown. Length, 6 inche3. It is very common at Modderfontein, and Irene, Transvaal, where it may be seen drinking in some SPARROWS 149 numbers at eventide. It is largely a seedeater, but may sometimes eat soft fruit, such as figs. We have also seen it picking out the seeds from the ripening heads of the sunflower. Amongst the Ploceidae, Alaudidae and Nectarinidae, there are songsters of various qualifications, but we will deal with them under other headings. SPARROWS The Sparrows are not a large group in South Africa ; although useful at times, they are often very destructive. First in order of classification comes the Diamond Sparrow (Petronia swpersiliaris) bearing the most inappropriate name of " Bock " Sparrow in the text-books. Mr. Ivy informs me it is fairly common in the Albany District, assembling in small flocks amongst the high trees around Grahamstown during the winter months. In summer it resorts to the high Bushveld, where it constantly affects the branches of decay- ing trees. In the Pretoria Bushveld it is also common at times. As already stated, the name is a misnomer, as it is a true arboreal bird, seldom alighting on the ground except when tempted by grain, which it readily eats, although principally insectivorous. We have so far only noticed it nesting in hollow trees or posts, and have not found or heard of an authentic case of a nest being found in a hole in a krantz or in a wall. It devours a fairly large quantity of insects and weed seeds, thus doing a certain amount of good to agriculture. The Diamond Sparrow is a drabish-brown bird with a broad greyish eyebrow, and a yellow spot on the chest which is bright and distinct in some individuals, more obscure and paler in others. Length, 6| inches. It lays three or four grey eggs mottled with slatey-brown. The Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus), or Mossie, is the 150 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST South African equivalent of the English House Sparrow. Its habits are much the same, building as it does a large untidy nest of grass and sticks lined with wool, feathers, In;. 85. — Diamond Sparrow near nest hole. i wine, or indeed anything soft and warm that comes handy. The nest is placed in a bush, tree, gutter or pipe, under the eaves or on a rafter. It lays three or four eggs of a pale greyish-greeD or blue colour spotted and blotched with various shades of brown; the eggs vary considerably in SPARROWS 151 size, shape and markings, some being almost Mack with the profusion and darkness of the blotches, while others are quite light owing to the scarcity and paleness of the mottling. They eat almost anything and during the grain season do quite an appreciable amount of damage in company with their cousins, the Weaver-birds. The Cape Sparrow's range is fairly general in South Africa, but only extends into the Coast Districts of the Eastern portion of the Cape during the winter months ; its most southerly nesting grounds seem to be the high veld at the Great Fish River in the Albany Division. The male differs from the female in his brighter tints and black head, the female having a grey head with pale eyebrow. Length, 6 inches. There is a larger (length, (i.J inches) and more robustly built species than either of the two preceding, viz. the Greater South African Sparrow (Passer motitensis). This bird is pale red-brown above streaked with black. Top of head grey. Cheeks, sides of neck and under parts white, excepting the throat and upper chest, which is black. Length, 6 J inches. The female has the top of the head brown and only the throat blackish. It is not known south of the Orange River. In the Central and Northern Transvaal it is fairly common at times, but is a scarce bird when compared with its audacious brother above mentioned. Another scarcer species is the Grey-headed Sparrow (P. griseus) ranging from the northern and north-eastern districts of the Cape, throughout the sub-continent. Both sexes resemble the female of the Mossie in colour, but can be dis- tinguished from this bird by its shriller call-note and dark grey head without a light-coloured eyebrow. Its nidification was first described by Major Sparrow in the Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union, for July, 1905, and 152 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST subsequently by Austin Eoberts, Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union, June, 1906. The eggs arc; covered with blackish-brown blotches and streaks. BUNTINGS The subfamily Emberizinai is also a small group of birds, but contains the handsome Golden-breasted Bunting (Embe Fig. 86. — Golden-breasted Bunting at nest. riza flaviventris), which is fairly plentiful in the eastern districts of the Cape and in the Pretoria Bushveld. So far as our experience goes the nest is never placed on the ground, but usually six to ten feet high in the fork of a small tree — never in thick bush or kloofs. The eggs, four in number, are white, with most beautiful scroll-like, wavy lines, forming a wreath round t lie obtuse ends. The nosl is cup-shaped, composed of twigs and grass, and usually neatly lined with long'stiff hair or fibres. Its song is rather plaintive STARLINGS 153 ami is somewhat similar to that of the European Yellow Hammer. It feeds principally on weed seeds. The other members of the subfamily are not bush-birds, so we must treat of them under another heading. STARLINGS We next come to the Sturnidae (Starlings), a fairly large group amongst which are several birds quite as destructive as they are useful, and here is also included the celebrated Wattled Starling (one of the Locust Birds), which will be found described amongst the agriculturist's friends. A common member of this family is the Red-shouldered Glossy Starling (Lamprocolius plicenicoptcrus), commonly known as the Green Spreeuw in the Eastern portion of Cape Province. It is of a brilliant metallic glossy green, blue and purple. Length 10| inches. It inhabits the bushy kloofs, usually laying four or five bluish-green eggs, spotted with pale red-brown, in a hole in a tree. We found that the soft Euphor- bias are very often utilised by these birds as nesting sites. The true Green Spreeuw is confined to Cape Province, it being replaced in the Transvaal and Natal by a smaller sub- species (L. p. bisjjecularis), which, in addition to being smaller (length 8 J inches), has the back of a steel-green colour instead of the oil-green tint which obtains in the large bird. They resemble one another in habits, being chiefly frugi- vorous, but vary this with an occasional diet of insect life. The next species is the Green-headed Glossy Starling (L. sycobius), which ranges from the Central Transvaal northwards. This bird is a little smaller than the lesser Green Spreeuw (length 8 inches), and has the head glossy oil-green, with a coppery sheen in the sunlight. Its nesting habits are similar to the preceding species, as are also its eggs. 154 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST The Black-bellied (i lossy Starling (/,. melanogaster) is the last representative of the genus we will deal with, and is immediately distinguishable by its dull black belly. It ranges from Knysna, through Eastern Cape Province (where it is, however, not common), northwards to British East Africa. In the Albany Division we found them nesting ; the few eggs taken were invariably of a plain pale greenish- blue, whereas Dr. Stark describes them as being spotted with reddish-brown. It is, however, possible that they vary occasionally, like those of the ordinary Spreo bicolor. A larger, longer-tailed bird than any of the preceding is the Purple Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis australis), which is common in the Transvaal Bushveld. It is known as the groote Blink-spreeuw. and has a black iris. A superbly beautiful bird is the Plum-coloured Starling [Ginnyricinclus leucogaster verreauxi), the male of which has t he upper parts, head and upper chest a bright metallic copper colour with purplish and violet reflections, the rest of the under surface being white. The female is totally different, being of a mottled brown. This is also the plumage of the young bird. This bird ranges from Natal, the Orange Free State and Damaraland, through Zumland and the Transvaal to the Congo on the West, and Tanganyika on the East. They feed chiefly on berries and insects. In the Pretoria District along the Crocodile Paver, north of the Magaliesberg Range, we found them not uncommon, and also along the Pienaars i;i\ er Valley. They nest during December in holes in trees, laying four pale blue eggs spotted with pale brown. ORIOLES The Family Oriolidce is represented in South Africa by four species, one of which (Oriolus notatus), though coming as far south as the Northern Transvaal, is scarce and little ORIOLES 155 Fig. S7. — Female and nest of Black-headed Oriole 156 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST known, while the other (0. auratus) has only recently been added to the South African Fauna by Alexander, who met with it in the Zambesi Valley. Of the remaining two species, the Golden Oriole of Europe (0. galbula) is a fairly scarce visitor to South Africa, being recorded, amongst other places, from Pondoland, by Sergeant Davies, C.M.R. ; Damaraland by Andersson ; Eustenburg (Barratt) ; Irene (L. E. Taylor) and Hartebeest Poort (Haagner), both the last being in the Pretoria District. It is of a golden yellow colour, with a black streak from the bill to the eye. Length, 10 inches. The last member of the family is the Black-headed Oriole (0. larvatus), easily distinguished from the Golden Oriole by its black head and throat. Length, 9| inches. This bird is fairly common in the Albany and Bathurst Divisions of the Cape Province, where it is often knowm as the Yellow Spreeuw. During the winter months it affects the neigh- bourhood of gardens and populated areas, betaking itself in September to the outskirts of the Bush and commencing to build in October. It constructs a cup-shaped nest of Ptylandsia (Old Man's Beard Moss), and generally deposits three eggs of a creamy white ground sparsely marked with purplish-brown. Mr. Ivy mentions that, although usually very wild, one of these birds once allowed a camera to be fixed to a bough within a few feet from the nest on which it sat. It has full flute-like notes which are very pleasant to the ear. In the Centra] Transvaal it is scarce, appearing only as "partial migr nts " ; this is. however, accounted for by its forest-loving disposition, natural forest being an unknown quantity in the Witwatersrand area. I procured a single example at Modderfontein, Transvaal. It feeds on berries, wild fruits, and insects and their larva;. WHITE-EYES 157 WHITE-EYES Turning to another Family of the Passeres — widely separated as far as classification goes — we come to the Fig. 88. — Cape White-eye at nest. family Zosteropidce, of which South Africa possesses several species. We need only treat of the two commoner : Zosiewps virens (Green White-eye) and Z. capensis (Cape White-eye). 158 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST They frequent bushy country, living on the juices of flowers, insects and fruit. The first-named bird is1 grass green above, whereas the latter is olive-green. In addition the Green White-eye is yellow underneath, while the " Cape >r bird is light brown, only the throat and under tail coverts being yellow. They are immediately recognisable by the white ring round the eye, which has given them their trivial English name " White-eye " and the Dutch " Kersoogie." In the Central Transvaal we found them especially fond of the nectar of the ordinary eucalyptus flowers, and very destructive to ripe apricots and figs. They build a small cup-shaped nest of fine material and moss cemented together with cobweb, &c, and finely lined with hair ; they lay four or five pale blue eggs. TITS The Tits (Paridce) are represented by six kinds, one of which is, however, only a sub-species. The Black-breasted Tit (Parus afer) ranges through the South-western and ( !ent ral portions of Cape Province, and has the crown, throat, cheeks and centre of breast black, the back brownish, and the under parts pale fawn ; it is re- placed north of the Orange Eiver by the Grey Tit (P. cinera- scens), which differs from the preceding species in being grey both above and below. The Black Tit (P. niger) is black all over except certain wing feathers, &c, which are tipped with white. It is found from the Eastern Cape Province northwards to Mashonaland, and thence westward to Ngami, Damaraland and Benguela. The Black Tit is a noisy little fellow, whose call is a deep churr-churr-churr. Its food is exclusively of an insectivorous nature. Jt nests in small ho!<>s in trees, the nest being composed <>\ ;i few feathers, Kits of moss, and cast snake sloughs. This bird is a favourite host of the Honey-guides. SHRIKES 159 The Tits usually nest in holes in trees, occasionally in cavities in rocks, laying white eggs sparsely marked with pale red. Fig. 89.— Black Tit at nest hole. SHRIKES The Shrikes (Family Lanidce) are well represented in South Africa by three subfamilies with eleven genera. The handsomest member of the family is perhaps the Long- tailed Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus), in its garb of glossy black and pure white, and very long tail. Total length, 15 to 18 inches, whereof the tail measures from 10 to 13 inches. It is fairly common in the Transvaal Bushveld, doing a great deal of good by devouring locusts, grasshoppers and other insect-life. It builds a large rough cup-shaped nest 160 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST a bush, and lays three or lour eggs, generally of a creamy pink colour marked with dots and streaks of various shades of brown and grey. The commonest and most widely distributed member of the family is the ordinary Fiskal (Lanius collaris) whose Fig. 90. — Fiskal Shrike on nest. shambles is a well-known sight to every South African. One may chance upon a mimosa tree which has been used by one of these birds as a larder, and find impaled on its long thorns grasshoppers, lizards, &c. ; a barbed wire fence is often requisitioned nowadays to fill the office. This bird is not liked by the aviculturist or canary-keeper, as it is pugnacious, and has often been known to kill canaries in their cages. SHRIKES 161 As another illustration of popular ignorance of South African bird-life, the late Dr. Exton, whose name is well known to South African ornithologists, told a good story at a meeting of the Johannesburg Field Naturalists' Club, just prior to the Boer War. He said that while residing in Bloemfontein, he was one day fetched by a friend to shoot some bird that had killed one of his canaries, and on arrival at the friend's house the latter pointed to a pert specimen of the Piskal coolly sitting on the railing and said, " Don't shoot him— he is so tame ; those are the brutes," and pointed to a couple of innocent Bui bids which were hopping about the branches of a tree. The Fiskal Shrike builds rather a neat, cup-shaped nest of weeds, grass, twine, &c, lined with feathers, and lays usually three eggs of a pale greeny tint, marked with pale brown spots and purplish-brown blotches on the thick ends. It is commonly known as the " Jack-hanger " and " Butcher-bird " in the Cape, the " Jacky-hangman " in Natal, and the " Lachsman " in the Transvaal. It is brownish-black above with a white patch on the wing, and white below. Length, 8 inches. The Bed-backed Shrike (L. collurio) is a migrant from Europe, and does not breed out here. It can easily be recognised from the other Shrikes by its chestnut-coloured back and pinkish underparts. Length, 7 inches. The Brubru Shrike (Nilaus brubru) is of a glossy black and white with a distinct frontal band across the forehead, extending on either side of the head in the shape of a pro- nounced white eyebrow running right on to the temporal region of the head. It is found from the Orange River northwards and lays three to five eggs of a white ground colour spotted with brown. M 1()2 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST The sub-family Malaconotmce contains some very well- known birds, such as the Bush-Shrikes (Tclcphoniis). The hest known species is the Black-headed Bush-Shrike (T. Senegal us), known to the Zulus as the " Inqupan." It extends from Port Elizabeth to Zululand and the Transvaal, and from Mashonaland to Northern Damaraland. It usually lays three eggs of a white ground colour marked with pale purple and reddish-pink. The Tchagra Bush-Shrike (T. tchagra) is a little smaller and differs also in having a rufous crown instead of the black crown characteristic of T. senegalus. It lays three eggs of a creamy white colour irregularly marked with pale lavender and purplish-brown streaks, which are in some specimens sparsely, in others thickly distributed. Both these birds are beautiful whistlers — indeed, to such an extent is this developed that one not accustomed to the bird would mistake their call for the whistle of a human being. They are fond of bushy country and are friends of the agriculturist, devouring large quantities of insects, although they also eat berries and other vegetable matter. A still smaller species is found in the Transvaal, Bechuana- land and Damaraland, extending to Angola and (he Upper Zambesi Valley. This is the Three-streaked Bush-shrike (T. australis). It is also a lover of bush country and was recorded by Erikson as breeding on the Limpopo River in December and near Lake Ngami in March. A nest taken on New Year's day. 1906, on the bank of the Crocodile Biver three or four miles north of Hartebeest Poort in the Pretoria District was a very neat little saucer of rootlets, and con- tained three eggs of a pure white prettily marked with reddish-brown spots. SHRIKES 163 We next have the Puff-backed Shrikes (Dryoscopus), the first representative of which is the true Puff-back (D. cubla), the male being well known for the beautiful powder-puff like patch of downy white feathers on the back, which the bird can erect at will. In Natal it is sometimes called the Fig. 91. — Nest and Eggs of Three-streaked Bush-Shrike. (Photo. Haagner.) " Snowball Shrike." General colour, black above and white below. Length, 6| inches. It builds a cup-shaped nest of rootlets and fibres, the outside being composed of strips of the palm-like leaves of a Dracena, thickly matted with spider webs, and is always built round the fork or branch on which it is placed. The eggs — three in number — are pinkish-white, thickly speckled 164 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST FlG. 92. — Puff-back Shrikes and Nest. SHRIKES 165 in the obtuse ends with small dots of deep pinkish-brown. It is fairly common in the forest and bush regions from Knysna to the Zambesi Valley, and across to Damaraland and Southern Benguela. The Greater Puff-back (D. ferrugineus) differs from the first -mentioned species in its larger size, buffish underparts and orange-buff tinge on the rump. Its eggs are pale blue, thickly speckled with reddish-brown. The two remaining species are but little known. The last genus of the Sub-family is a large one com- prising some ten species of Laniarius, the first of which is the beautiful Crimson-breasted Shrike (L atrococcineus) , whose trivial name will easily serve to distinguish it. It is black above with a white bar on the wing, below bright crimson. Length, 8 inches. It is fairly common in the bushveld north of Pretoria, whence we obtained some good examples. It is very quick and collecting specimens is often in consequence no easy matter. Buckley records a nest taken on November 7, built of soft dead weeds containing three eggs of a white ground colour, thickly spotted with light brown. It is not an easy bird to keep in captivity, requiring a plentiful supply of insects. The commonest member of the genus is the well-known Bakbakiri (Laniarius guUuralis), called by most Colonials the " Kokevic," from its call. It is easily recognisable by its yellow and green plumage and black chest-band. Length, 8| inches. The male and female are very fond of calling to each other, their respective cries differing considerably. Stark gives an excellent description of these in his " Birds," vol. ii., " Fauna of South Africa." The nest is like that of other shrikes, and usually contain 16G DENIZENS OF THE FOREST three verditer blue eggs mottled with rusty red. It is also an insect and worm feeder like the other members of the family, and if it were not for the bird-killing propensities of Fig. 93. — Bakbakiri Shrike on its nest. some of the members, we would not have had the slightest hesitation in including them under the chapter of " Friends of the Agriculturist." The next species is the beautiful Four-coloured Bush Shrike (L. guadricolor) which is green above, and has the cheeks and throat scarlet, followed by a broad band of black : the remainder of the under parts being yellow. Length. 7| inches. It is essentially an Eastern species ranging from Natal to British East Africa. SHRIKES 167 They breed early in November, according to Millar, and lay " two or three pretty white eggs delicately marked with grey-brown streaks and splashes, principally at the obtuse end." The Buddy-breasted Bush Shrike (L. rubigmosus) is olive- green above with reddish-buff underparts, excepting the abdominal region which is whitish, faintly barred with grey. Length, 7| inches. It ranges through the bush regions of the Cape from George eastwards through Natal and Zulu- land into the Transvaal, where Ayres procured it at Lyden- burg, and C. H. Taylor at Amsterdam. It constructs a shallow saucer-like nest of rootlets, &c, which is so slightly built that one can usually see the eggs through it. These are of a very pale creamy-green, speckled and blotched, chiefly at the obtuse end, with pale sienna and pale purplish-slate. It is a very shy bird and difficult to see, although its beautiful call can be heard all through the summer months. It nests during December and January. The Olive Bush-shrike (L. olivaceus) is like the preceding species above, but is orange yellow on the breast going off into yellowish on the abdomen. The pretty little Orange-breasted Bush-shrike (L. sul- 'phurei'pectus) can be immediately distinguished by its reddish-orange breast, and by the bright yellow of the remainder of the underparts. Top of head blue-grey. It ranges as far south as Grahamstown and Lake Nyassa in the north. Alexander, who took its eggs on the Zambesi, records them as three in number and of a greenish white spotted and blotched at the larger end. 1(58 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST The Southern Grey-headed Bush-shrike (Malaconotus hypopyrrhui) is a large bird of a greenish colour on the upper surface, blue-grey head and yellow underparts, the upper chest has a band of tawny orange traversing it. Length, 9| inches. This bird ranges from Grahamstown in the Cape through Natal to Zanzibar, East Africa. In the Cape it is known as the Spook- vogel. It is more like the Fiskal in its habits and pugnaciousness, and like it this Bush-shrike attacks other birds. The eggs, taken by H. Millar, were creamy marked with grey and brown irregular spots. The genus Nicator is represented writhin our limits by but one species, the Zambesi Green-shrike (N. gularis), which does not interest us further as it is scarce in South Africa, although extending from the border of Somaliland to Zulu- land whence the Woodwards record it. Swjmnerton found it in Gazaland, wrhile Sheppard took its eggs near Beira. The genus Lanioturdus with also but one species does not concern us either. The last Sub-family, Prionopinoi, contains but two genera with three species, Snjmodus retzii, S. tricolor, and Prionops ialacoma, which arc all scarce birds within our limits. BABBLERS ( >!' Ihf Family Crateropodidce our first genus is Crateropus with five species, only two of which, however, need concern u- here. Jardine's Babbler (C. jardinei) is a grey-brown bird with streaky head and breast. Length, 9 inches. It ranges from Central Natal and the Transvaal northwards to ihc Zambesi. It is a noisy bird, its harsh chattering cry BABBLERS 109 earning for it the Dutch name of " Kakelaar " (chatterer). It is common in the Pretoria district, frequenting at times even the National Zoological Gardens. It builds a cup- shaped nest and lays blue eggs. The Pied Babbler (C. bicolor) is white with blackish-brown wings and tail. Like its congener above mentioned, it is fond of thick bush, is a noisy bird, and feeds upon insects, worms, &c, which it searches for on the ground. It is fairly common in the Pretoria Bush veld, whence the National Zoological Gardens has received examples. Our next genus under the heading of Bush birds is And.ro- Fig. 94. — Sombre Bulbul at nest. (Four Cuckoo eggs in nest besides its own.) padus, with two species, only one of which, the well-known Sombre Bulbul (A. importunus), concerns us at present. It 170 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST is known bo the Dutch as Boschvogel from its bush-loving habits, and is fairly common in the bush districts of the (ape. It is olive-green above and olive-grey below. Length, 8| inches. Near Grahamstown, where it is known as the " Pilawit," it is one of the hosts of the Cuckoos (Coccystes jacobin us. hypopinarius, serratus, and Guculus clamosus). It nests from November to January, building a small neat shallow structure of beard moss and twigs, and lays two eggs of a creamy grey ground, prettily marbled with very pale and dark purplish-brown blotches. A nest taken on January 5, in the Featherstone Valley, near Grahamstown, was built a I I lie extremity of a low branch overhanging the river, and contained two of the Bulbul's eggs, and one of " Cocci/sivs serratus." ROBINS The commonest member of the Robin-Chats is the "'('ape" species (CossyplLa caffra) called the Cape Robin or Jan Fredric. It is olive-brown above, the rump region and tail (excepl the two centre feathers) being rufous; a white eyebrow; -ides of face black : throat and chest and under tail coverts bright rufous, the centre of abdomen whitish ; remainder of under surface slate-grey. Length, 1\ indies. This bird is fairly generally distributed throughout South Africa. It is of confiding habits, being fond of the neighbour- hood of gardens and houses, where it is always on the search for insects, [t has a pleasant song. The (ape Eobin builds early in the Cape ; its eggs may be looked for from the end of August : iii the Transvaal the best month is October. Tin nest — cup-shaped, of roots and lined with hair — is generally placed in a bush about IS inches to 3 feet from the ground, on the side of a tree-trunk, or on a stump. The ROBINS 171 eggs, usually three in number, are pale blue, thickly spoiled and blotched with pale rust colour : sometimes this mottling is arranged in the shape of a wreath round the blunt end of the egg. The Noisy Robin-Chat (C. bicolor) is the Piet-myn-vrouw in some of the Dutch districts, and the Mocking Bird of the Fig. 95. — Xest and eggs of Noisy Robin-Chat. Colonial boy. This species is conspicuously coloured, being dark slaty-grey above and bright orange-rufous below ; sides of face black. Length, 1\ inches. It is a fairly common bird in the bush country of the Cape Province ; in the Grahamstown kloofs its musical imitation of various bird-calls may often be heard. It will imitate almost any bird-call, even the screech of the Crowned Hawk Eagle. 172 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST It feeds chiefly on insects, varied by a few berries and forest fruits. Its nest — much like that of the preceding species — is either situated on a rocky ledge on the side of a krantz (as depicted in the photograph), or on a sloping tree trunk or stump. The eggs, generally three in number, vary from an olive greenish- brown to a clear glossy russet-chocolate. The Natal Eobin-Chat {Cossyplia natalensis) is blue-grey above ; head orange-brown streaked with bluish ; nape and rump orange-brown ; upper tail-coverts chestnut ; entire under-surface orange-red. This species ranges from Durban to Mombasa in the East, and from Benguela to Loando in the West. It resembles the former bird in habits and nidification. The Brown Eobin-Chat {Cossyplia signata) is chocolate- brown above ; a bar of white on the wing ; a white eye- brow, above which there is a black line ; under-surface white ; throat, breast and sides of body ashy. Length, 7 inches. This is a retiring bush-loving bird of the Eastern Cape Province and Natal. In the Albany Kloofs it is not uncommon. The eggs are greenish-white, covered with pink-grey blotches, chiefly at the obtuse end. The Black Bush-Bobin (Tarsiger silens) has the upper parts black, except the wing, which is adorned with a white patch ; throat and under tail-coverts white ; breast and abdomen grey. The female has the regions which are black in the male replaced by brown. This bird is known as the Sacred Jackhanger to the ROBINS 173 Colonial schoolboy. The male bears a strong resemblance to that of the Fiskal Shrike when on the wing, or flitting about the trees. It builds a compact cup-shaped nest in Fig. 96. — Female Black Bush-Robin on nest. (Photo. Hewitt Ivy.) a tree or bush, which is generally composed of bents of ever- lastings, and lays three eggs of a pale green colour indistinctly mottled with pale rusty-brown. Where this bird got the name it is known by in the text- books (viz. Silent Bush-Eobin) is not quite clear, as it is one of the noisiest of birds, being also an excellent mimic. It is a true insect feeder, and is more often placed amongst the Flycatchers by present-day systematists, where it no doubt more properly belongs. 174 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST "^i^vj fiL,, L ij^ ^SP^ JPsBpS^^ fi^J ^ . ^Sya^^lf^ i^t-j^tei. /^y^ ^ /5u •£ Fig. 97. — Fork-tailed Drongo with nest and eggs. DRONGO-SHRIKES 1 75 DRONGC-SHRIKES The family Dicruridce, Genus Dicrurus, contains two species of Drongo-shrikcs, called Bijvangers. They are both black birds, the Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicru- rus afcr), as its name indicates, having a pronounced forked- tail, the plumage differing from the Square-tailed Drongo (D. ludwigii) in being much more glossy, and pitch-black throughout, whereas the latter bird has the lower surface tinged with greyish. Former, 91 inches long ; latter, 7 inches. The Fork-tailed species is fairly generally distributed throughout South Africa, excepting the neighbourhood of Cape Town and the desert portion of the north-west of the Cape Province. It is very common in the " Bush " regions of the east of the Cape Province, Natal and Transvaal. We found it extremely so in the Albany kloofs, and along the Hennops River near Irene, and the Crocodile River in the district of Pretoria. It lives in pairs, the male pursuing any intruder of his kind who invades the territory he claims as his own. It has a shrill voice and is an excellent mimic. It has the habit of sitting on some exposed branch from which it makes short darts into the air after insects, which form its main article of food. Its inordinate fondness for bees has earned for itself the vernacular name of Bijvanger (Bee- catcher). It is also singularly attracted by a grass fire, dashing through the smoke after insects. It is extremely bold in defending its nest, and will fly round one's head when robbing the nest, approaching at times near enough for its wings to brush against one. It builds a light, though strong, saucer-shaped nest of rootlets and twigs, usually situated near the extremity of a bough, slung between two twigs. Its eggs, two to four in number, 17G DENIZENS OF THE FOREST e3 3 £ HORNEILLS 177 vary from a pure white to a cream}' or salmon-pink, sparingly spotted with brown, pink or purplish. The photograph depicts a nest on a hillside overlooking the Kowie Kiver at Port Alfred. The Square-tail ranges from Pondoland (where it was procured by Sergeant Davies, C.M.R.) to Portuguese East Africa, the Eastern Transvaal and Rhodesia. It is a shyer bird than its relative, keeping more to the thicker bush, and is not usually attracted by grass fires. It builds a more solid structure than the Fork-tail, lichen forming the bulk of the material used, but the eggs do not vary to the same extent as those of the afer. HORNBILLS Of the family of Hornbills (Bucerotidce) two genera are forest-loving birds, the first representative being the Trum- peter Horn bill (Bycanistes buccinator). This bird is black with a greenish sheen above ; the rump, upper tails coverts and lower breast white ; the beak is ornamented with an enormous casque, the upper edge of which almost reaches to a level with the tip of the beak. Length, 26 to 27 inches. The Crowned Hornbill (Lophoceros melanoleucus) is the best-known member of the family in the bush districts of the Cape, where it generally assembles into parties of from six to twenty individuals during the winter months, visiting the towns and feeding on late fruit and insects turned up in the cultivation of ground. They do an amount of good by feeding upon locusts and caterpillars, but as they do some harm to fruit, especially bananas, we have not included them under the heading of N 178 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST HORNBILLS 179 friends of the farmer, although the good they do undoubtedly outweighs the harm. The nidification of this bird is already a time-worn theme, Fig. 100. — Crowned Hornbill at nest hole. but we cannot refrain from giving the somewhat sad history of the picture illustrating the species in this work. Early one morning, when we were ready to take a photo- graph at a nest-hole which had been discovered, containing young, we could not see the parent birds about, which was strange, as we knew for certain that they had young ones. 180 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST After waiting a while one of the old birds appeared, and perched close to the nest, then flew away screaming. We got the camera into position by building a platform of logs and stones, as the nest was about 8 feet above the ground and just below it was a steep waterfall. One of the party next picked up a dead young one amongst the undergrowth below the nest, and we only then noticed that a swarm of bees was issuing from and entering the hole. After exercising a little patience we obtained the desired snap, and then proceeded to cut away the tree- trunk, after smoking out the bees. Some heavy labour with an axe enabled us to effect an opening and the remaining young bird was extracted. The poor creature was much swollen and red, the skin being one large blister, resulting from the stings of the bees. It was dosed with ammonia and recovered sufficiently to ravenously devour some fruit, but it never entirely recovered, and died a few days later. Some time afterwards we visited the nest and cut the tree above and below the hole to see if there was any other opening for the birds to enter, as the one seen in the photo- graph was very small, being only 1£ in. in diameter, neither was it built up, as is usually the case. It is somewhat of a mystery to us how the old birds entered that hole, as we could not discover another entrance. It is most unusual Eor them to leave the opening as it is, for they generally build it up with excreta and a gummy substance; it is a peculiar sight to watch them plastering it up — a ball of the material is taken in the bill, rubbed on the wood, then basted with the alternate sides of the flat beak. They lay two to four eggs in December or January, which are rough in texture and pure white in colour. This Hornbill is commonly called the Toucan by Colonists and is dark brown above, and the head is mottled with white ; the throat, chest and sides of body dark grey and HORNBILLS 181 rest of under parts white. Bill and casque red, with a yellow band at the base. Length, 21 to 23 inches. The best known " up-country " species is the Bed-billed Hornbill (L. erytlirorynchus), which has a grey head and is Fig. 101. — Nest hole of Crowned Hornbill. (To show plastering up of entrance, with slit left through which to feed imprisoned female.) dark brown above, with the wing feathers spotted with white and the under parts white. It can easily be distinguished from the foregoing species by the red beak being without a casque. Length, 18 to 19 inches. 182 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST It ranges from the Transvaal to Rhodesia, and Portuguese East Africa to South- West Africa. There is another species which is not uncommon from Natal northwards to the Zambesi, the Yellow- billed Horn- bill (L. leucomelas), which is immediately recognisable b}r its yellow bill without a distinct casque. It is a little larger than the preceding species, and is common in the Bushveld of the Transvaal, where I have seen it picking out the grains from the ripening Kaffir corn, although it is essentially a frugivorous and insectivorous feeder. TROGONS Of the family Trogonidaa, South Africa possesses but a single species, the beautiful Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina). It is metallic green above and below as far as the chest. the remainder of the under parts being bright crimson. The female has the side of the head, throat and chest of a yellow-brown instead of green. Length about 11| inches. It ranges from the Gamtoos River in the Cape Province through Natal on the East to Southern Abyssinia, and re- appears in Angola on the West Coast. It is a denizen of thick bush or forest, where it sits quite still or creeps about searching for the insects which forms its chief article of food. It is a scarce bird and little is known of its habits. PLAINTAIN-EATERS The family Musophagidae (PlainUiin Eaters) contains some of the handsomest birds in South Africa, the best known of which is the Knysna J Maintain Eater or Common Lourie PLAINTAIN-EATERS 183 (Turacus coryfhaix). It is too well known with its green plumage, white-tipped crest and red and Mack wing feathers to need any detailed description. Length, about 18 to 19 inches. It is a thorough forest-loving species, frequenting the wooded, kloofs where its loud hoarse croaking cry can be heard morning and evening. It lives on wild fruits of various kinds, and builds a flat nest of sticks from 6 to 16 feet above the ground, and usually lavs two eggs of a pure white colour and rounded oval in shape. The peculiar part of the red colouring matter of the wings is that it contains a large amount of copper (about 7 per cent.), originally analysed by Professor Church. A friend of ours, a chemist, confirmed the copper content of the feathers, but with regard to the theory that the red can be washed out with soap and water, we are sorry to say we cannot confirm this in toto. It certainly does get paler during wet weather and in old skins, but we have never seen it icasli out in nature, and have tried to do so artificially with soap and water, but without result. This species ranges from George in the Cape Province <<> Lydenburg in the Transvaal. There is another species in the northern portions of the sub-continent, Livingstone's Lourie, characterised by the crest being much lengthened and pointed in front. The Purple-crested Lourie (Gallirex porphyreolophus) is the commoner species in the Northern Transvaal, ranging from Natal to the Zambesi along the Eastern line. It has the top of the head and crest glossy purple, lower back wings and tail lilac-blue. Length, about 17 inches. It is not un- common in the Woodbush on the Great Letaba River in the Zoutpansberg District and has been procured at Nelspruit by Mr. A. Duncan of Johannesburg. 84 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST Fig. 102. — Knysna Plaintain Eater or Lourie with nest and eggs. PARROTS 185 The last representative of the family is a plain ashy-grey bird (Chizaerhis concolor), the " Go-away" bird of the English, and " Groote Muisvogel " (Big Mouse-bird) of the Boers, which latter name is very appropriate as it is very much like an overgrown mouse-bird. It has a long crest of decomposed feathers. Length, about 18 inches. It inhabits Central and Northern South Africa south- wards to Zululand, but is not found in Natal, the Cape Province or Orange Free State. In the Pretoria District along the Crocodile River, north of Hartebeest Poort, and throughout the Bushveld, it is fairly common, uttering its harsh cry of " guay, guay ! " whenever it is disturbed or when going to roost in the evening. It is rather wild in that region, consequently not easily shot. The natives are fond of its flesh, which is dark and not bad eating when properly cooked. PARROTS The Parrot Tribe (Psittaci) is very poorly represented in South Africa. The best-known species is probably the Red-shouldered Parrot (Poicephalus robustus), which is fairly dull coloured and about the size of the ordinary Grey Parrot of talking fame. The rump, upper tail coverts, lower breast and belly are grass-green, and there is a vermilion band round the edge of the wing. Length, 13| to 14 inches. It is found from Zuurberg in Cape Province to Mashona- land. It is probably commonest in the Pirie Forest, near Kingwilliamstown. These birds are gregarious in habits and denizens of the thick bush and forest tracts. The Brown-headed Parrot (P. fuscicollis) is green all over except the head and neck, which is grey tinged with yellowish. Under wing coverts yellow. Length, about 9 inches. 18G DENIZENS OF THE FOREST The little Meyer's Parrot (P. meyeri) in its brown and blue plumage, with a yellow band on the head and a yellow edge to the wing, is a fairly common bird in the Western Transvaal, extending into Bechuanaland and llhodesia. In the Pretoria Bushveld it is quite common, and feeds upon fruit, ground nuts and certain seeds. The little Eosy-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) is grass-green with the forehead, sides of face and throat rose- red, rump regions cobalt-blue. It extends from North- Western Cape Province to the Namaqualand and Damaraland. Length, about 6-|- inches. Black-cheeked Lovebird (A. nigrigenis). In 1903 this Parrakeet was not known to science, when Dr. A. H. B. Kirkman, late of Queenstown, brought a couple of skins down from North- West Bhodesia, and Mr. W. L. Sclater, then Director of the South African Museum, described it. Since then several collections of living examples, numbering thousands, have been brought down and exported oversea. It breeds well in captivity and feeds upon seeds (principally canary and grass) and greens. It is greenish in colour with dark brown cheeks and a patch of orange-pink on the chest. Length about 6 inches (150 mm.). It nests in hollow trees, and from three to four white eggs are laid. DOYES The Doves (Order Columbce) are fairly numerous in South Africa, being represented by two families containing fourteen species in eight genera. Doves are characterised by their short legs and peculiar beaks, the basal portion of which is soft and pad-like, form- ing what is called the " cere." the rest of the beak being hard and somewbal swollen towards the tip. DOVES 187 The young are devoid of feathers and very weak and helpless when hatched. The first family (Treronidce) contains the Green Fruit Pigeons, and is distinguished from the second family by the possession of fourteen tail feathers. The Southern Green Fruit Pigeon (Vinago delalandii) is of a general green colour, excepting a broad collar of drub ; and the wing-quills, which are black ; below the colour is of a greyer tinge mottled with yellow on the abdominal portion ; the " shoulder " is washed with pinkish. Length, 1 foot. This bird extends from British East Africa southwards to the forests of the Eastern Cape Province. In the Albany division it is decidedly uncommon, being, however, a little more plentiful in Pondoland. It is a partial migrant, its appearance and disappearance being coincident with the ripening of forest fruits and berries. It is especially fond of the wild fig, amongst the branches of which the bird is very difficult of detection, owing to the harmony existing between the coloration of its plumage and that of the foliage. The cry is a soft whistle, and the flesh is tender and of a delicate flavour. It builds the usual dove-like type of nest — a platform of sticks — and, according to Ayres, lays white eggs. The members of the second family (Columbidce) possess only twelve tail feathers. The Speckled or Eock Pigeon (Columba phceonota) has the head, neck, rump and tail slate-grey, back maroon ; wings slatey mottled with white, below slate-grey. Naked skin l: DENIZENS OF THE FOREST round the eye and the legs red. Length, 13 to 14 inches. It is found throughout South Africa, excepting Ehodesia. This bird is called the Bosch-duif or Bush-dove, but is more strictly speaking a rock-loving species, breeding on krantzes (cliffs), or on the top of a wall in an out-building. Fig. 103. — South African Speckled or Rock Pigeon. A favourite site are the ledges in a disused mine-shaft or well. The eggs are white, two in number, and may be looked for during the months of August to March. It does a considerable amount of damage to grain crops, but is, on the other hand, of decided use in devouring insects, including locusts and their young (voetgangers). It is about the size of a tame pigeon and has a similar cooing call. The Olive Pigeon (C. arquatrix) is slightly larger than the preceding bird, and has a number of vernacular names. It shares with the Speckled Pigeon the Boer cognomen of DOVES 189 Fig. 104. — Speckled or Rock Pigeon. 190 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST Bosch-duif. and is also occasionally called the Oliven- duif. In Natal it is termed the Black Pigeon, but in the Eastern districts of the Cape it is generally known as the Bush Pigeon. The back is of a purplish shade, the lower half of the wings being slate-coloured spotted with white ; tail black ; Fig. 105. — Olive Pigeon. chin and throat pinkish, breast purplish spotted with white, the purple shading into slate on the abdomen. Length, 15i inches. It ranges from Knysna, in Cape Province, to Zululand and the Transvaal, but is only an inhabitant of forest and bush country. In habits it resembles the Speckled Pigeon, excepting that it builds in trees and lays greenish-white eggs. DOVES 191 The Turtle-Doves are represented in South Africa by four species and one subspecies, only one of which has no black collar on the back of the neck. The Bed-eyed Dove (Turtur semitorquatus) has the head grey (cheeks and nape shaded with pink) ; above drabish- brown, and below pinkish-grey, fading into whitish on the chin and blue-grey on the flanks and belly. Bare skin round the eye red. Length, about 13 inches. Fig. 106.— Red-eyed Dove'at nest. This Dove is fairly common in the Eastern Districts of the Cape and the coastal portion of Natal. Although found in Mashonaland, it has so far not been recorded from the Transvaal. The Cape Turtle-Dove (T. capicola) is a well-known and widely-distributed bird in South Africa. It is smaller than the Eed-eyed Dove, is without the red skin round the eye, 192 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST and has a black streak from the base of the bill to the eye. Length, 11 inches. It is known as the Tortel-duif, and has a pleasant cooing note which is very much in evidence towards sunset. The somewhat harsh call of the Turtle-Dove is described by some authors as monotonous, which we hardly think is the opinion of Colonial-born men, who love the music of its call. The Turtle-Doves feed on grain and seeds, and according to Mr. Thomsen devour a fair proportion of voetgangers. Their nests are frail platforms of sticks, and the eggs are white and two in number, and may be searched for from September to March. The Laughing Dove (T. senegalensis) is smaller than the Cape Turtle-Dove, and is without the black half collar on the back of the neck ; the feathers of the sides and front of the neck are supplied with black bases and reddish tips, forming a broad indistinct and mottled collar. Length, about 10| inches. It ranges from Egypt to Cape Town, and although common in many districts is not so plentiful as capicola. In habits this Dove resembles its Cape cousin, but has a strange laughing sort of call-note. We took nests in the Transvaal in November and April. The Namaqua Dove (OEna capensis), male, is well known with its black head and upper breast, white belly, and long tail ; the female is without the black markings. This bird is the smallest of the doves, so far as the body is concerned. It is of the same length, to the end of the longest tail feather, as the Laughing Dove. It is fairly common throughout South Africa, excepting the coast districts, where i) is rarer and a migrant. DOVES 193 It is also a grain and seed-eating bird, and builds a plat- form-nest of twigs and rootlets, and lays white eggs. The Tambourine Dove (Tympanistria tympanistria) has the forehead, eyebrow, and entire under-surface white; above brown. Length, 8| inches. This Dove is only found in the Bush districts of the south- eastern portion of the sub-continent and in the Zoutpansberg and Lj^denburg Districts of the Transvaal. Its trivial name is derived from the peculiar rattling call, " coo coo " oft repeated. It does not differ from the other species in nesting habits, or food. The Emerald-spotted Dove (Clialcopelia afro) is brownish above, with two black bands on the rum}), and pinkish below ; there is a steel-green or metallic blue spot on the wing. Length, 8| inches. It is also a bush-loving species, ranging from Worcester through Knysna to Zululand, the Transvaal, and Ehodesia. It may often be found on the ground feeding on grass-weed seeds in the neighbourhood of rivers or in clearings in the bush. The Cinnamon Dove (Haplopelia larvata) has the forehead white, top of head, neck, and upper part of back metallic- pink with greeny reflections ; remainder of upper surface brownish ; chin whitish, breast pinkish, shading into cinna- mon on the belly. Length, 12 inches. It is an inhabitant of the forest country, ranging from Knysna in the Cape to Natal, and the Eastern Transvaal. It feeds on berries and seeds which it picks up from the ground, and nests in low trees and creepers, building a o 194 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST Fig. 107. — Emerald- spotted Dove. DOVES 195 rough platform of sticks, and lays two white eggs. In the Albany kloofs it is a scarce bird, although we found a nest on January 6, 1907, about six feet from the ground. The Doves may, on the whole, be considered as friends of the farmer, as, although accused — often with justice — of stealing ripening grain and uprooting sprouting peas, barley, and wheat, they do a large amount of good. CHAPTER VI OPNAMENTS OF THE VELD CROWS The first member of the Family Corvidae we have already dealt with in the opening chapter. The Pied Crow (Corvus scapalatus) could also, with some justice, have been included in the same chapter. It is glossy black (with purplish and steely-blue reflections) except the back of the head, sides of neck, upper back and breast, which are white. Length, 18 inches. The Dutch vernacular name, viz. Bonie Kraai, is equivalent to the English one. It inhabits practically the whole of Africa south of the Sahara Desert ; in the sub-continent it is fairly generally distributed, but is not found in the coastal portion of Natal. I found it fairly common around Monze Biding, Northern Khodesia, in November, 1918. This crow eats almost anything, from offal and carrion to shellfish, insects, and animal parasites, such as ticks, &c. Its nest — usually a roughly- constructed saucer of sticks lined with moss, wool and similar material — is either situated on the ledge of a krantz or in a tree. Eggs from three to six, of a bluish-green ground colour, streaked and spotted with various shades of brown. The Black Crow (Corvus capensis) is of a general glossy black colour. Length, 18 inches. This bird is somewhat local in distribution, being common in some districts and not known or scarce in others. 1U6 OXPECKERS 197 We found them fairly plentiful in Albany, and not at all scarce in the Central Transvaal. During the winter months they congregate into family parties, pairing off in October. The nest is a cup-shaped structure of small branches, Fig. 108.— Black Crow. lined with fine roots, fibres and hairs. Eggs usually three, bufiish-pink, spotted with reddish-brown and pink. Its chief food consists of insects and grain. Like the Pied Crow, it may often be found in the company of cattle. It is not a particular friend of the farmers, owing to its habit of pulling out and devouring the growing mealie seeds. In the Albany Division we have found this bird to be one of the hosts of the Great Spotted Cuckoo (Coccystes glandarius). OXPECKERS The Oxpeckers (Buphagince) are a sub-family of the Sturnidse or Starlings. There are two species, both being brown in coloration, and Fig. 109.- -The Home of the Korhaans : a typical Hat. (Springbuck shooting.) Fig. 110. — Aquatic Weeds on the Aapiea River ( Pretoria district) ; the home of the warblers. (Photos. Haagner.) LARKS 199 easily distinguishable from one another by the following key of Dr. Stark's : — a. Bill more robust ; yellow at the base, red at the point. Inner web of tail-feather rufous Buphaga africana. b. Bill less robust ; entirely red. Timer web of tail-feathers dark brown B. erythrorhyncha. The latter is the commoner bird on the Natal coast, being more local in the Transvaal. The former is the more generally distributed bird of the two. They are known to the farmers as Tick birds, on account of their habit of climbing about cattle and wild animals in search for the parasitic pests which infest them. They nest in a natural hole in a tree, under the roof of a house, or in a hole in a wall. Dr. Stark describes their eggs as pale bluish-white, but Millar and Sparrow state that those of the Bed-billed Oxpecker are spotted with purplish-red. LARKS The members of the Family Alaudidce are all more or less inhabitants of the veld proper, i.e. open down country, and the slopes and crests of low kopjes — and are not found in forest tracts or heavy bush-country. They are easily distinguished from any other " perching " birds (Passerine) by the rounded formation and scaling of the hinder part of the leg (tarsus). The majority are difficult of correct identification and concise description, being usually of sombre coloration — of some shade of brown. Of the Genus Pyrrhulauda, South Africa possesses three species. (1) Dark-naped Lark (P. australis) ; witli black ear- coverts. (2) Grey-backed Lark (P. verticalis) ; ear-coverts white ; back ashv srev. 200 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD (3) Chestnut-backed Lark (P. smithi) ; ear-coverts white ; back dark chestnut. All three species have the under-side black. They feed on seeds, and build their nests in a hollow under Fig. 111. — Rufous-headed Lark at nest. a tuft of grass or small bush, laying three or four white eggs, speckled and blotched with light brown. They assemble into flocks during winter, pairing off to build in the spring. LONGCLAWS 201 In the neighbourhood of Brandfort, Orange Free State, we found the Chestnut-backed Lark fairly common in April, 1906, although it was still in pairs. The Genus Mirafra contains a large number of species which do not admit of any concise descriptions, conse- quently, we have not the space at our disposal for the neces- sary detailed account, and must refer the reader to Stark and Sclater, vol. ii., " Birds " in the " Fauna of South Africa " series, for a full account of the family. They usually nest under a tuft of grass or other herbage, building a cup-shaped structure in a slight depression in the soil. We append a photograph of the Rufous-headed Lark (Mirafra rufipelia) taken near Springfontein, Orange Free State. LONGCLAWS The next family is the Motacillidce, containing three genera of well-known birds in South Africa. The first of these are the Longclaws (Macronyx), of which this country possesses three species easily distinguishable from one another by their vernacular names. The Orange-throated Longclaw (M. capensis) is fairly well distributed over the higher veld of South Africa, excepting the western territories. It is known as the Cut-throat Lark or Kalkoenje (little Turkey). The next species is the Yellow-throated (M. croceus), which is the commoner bird in low-lying districts, such as Natal, Zululand, &c. C. G. Davies, C.M.R., reports it as scarce in Pondoland, except near the Natal border, and we have found it decidedly so in the Pretoria District, Transvaal, notwithstanding what Barratt has written to the contrary. The last species is the Pink-throated Longclaw (M. amelice), which has, however, most of the underparts of a pink colour in addition to the throat. 202 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD The Longclaws are inhabitants of grassy downlands, where they build a cup-shaped nest of grass lined with finer material and horsehair, placing it in a hollow under a tuft of grass or weed, and laying three or four cream-coloured eggs marked with spots of different shades of brown and purplish. PIPITS The genus Anthas contains ten species, most of which are sombre brown- plumaged birds. Fig. 112. — Tawny Pipit, nesl and eggs. The Tree Pipit (A. trivialis) is a migrant from Northern and Central Europe and Western Siberia, where it breeds. Jt was firsl recorded from the Transvaal by Wablberg, and SECRETARY BIRD 203 recently by L. E. Taylor as far south as Irene, in the Pretoria district. The Cinnamon-backed Pipit (A. pyrrhonotus), the Lesser Tawny Pipit (A. rufulus), the Vaal River Pipit (A. vaalensis), are all brown birds of dull coloration, and not easy for the tyro to distinguish from one another. They are called " Koesters " (meaning Duckers) by the Boers, from their habits of ducking down or cowering in the grass. They are denizens of the open veld, making a nest somewhat similar to that of the Longclaws in much the same locality ; and usually lay three eggs of a sandy tint mottled with reddish and purplish brown. Our friend, Mr. L. E. Taylor, of Irene, had the honour of adding a Central African species to the South African list, viz. the Golden Pipit (Tmetothylacus tenellus of Cabanis). That this truly Tropical bird, in its gaudy yellow and black attire, should have wandered as far south as the South Central Transvaal, is somewhat strange. The Journal fur Omiihologie (organ of the German Ornithological Society) for January, 1907, contains a coloured plate of the female (till then undescribed) and wings of both sexes. SECRETARY BIRD A prominent though not very common figure on the veld is the Secretary-Bird (Serpentarius secretarius). It is a wrell-known bird in its ashy-grey and black plumage ; the black quill-like feathers situated at the back of the head and erectable at will give the bird its name of " Secretary." This bird was formerly protected under a five-pound fine in the Cape Province, but this has now been removed, we believe, owing probably to a closer knowledge of the economy of the Secretary-Bird. It requires a considerable run before it can rise on the 204 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD wing, and seldom flies either high or far. We on one occasion ran a bird down on horseback with a pack of greyhounds, the bird running with the fleetness of an antelope, with outstretched wings, occasionally rising into the air, but its flight was of short duration, the bird invariably descending and continuing its course on foot, using its wings as pro- pellers. This alternate rising and settling kept on till the bird was too tired to rise, and the dogs eventually brought it to bay against a bank, where it pluckily defended itself with wings and beak. Calling the dogs off, we let the bird go on its way unmolested, having experienced the best run with the hounds we had had that season, and the bird's staying powers having had the effect of putting our horses into a foamy lather from head to foot. The Secretary usually roosts in a mimosa tree at night, where it also constructs its nest — a large shallow saucer of sticks, lined with a few clods of roots, hair and wool, and measuring from three to five feet in diameter. The eggs are either plain bluish- white or marked with brownish spots. It stalks about the veld singly or in pairs, and feeds on snakes, lizards, small tortoises, insects, and young birds, such as young larks, partridges, &c. The last-named diet has earned for it the enmity of the sportsman, and although the evidence of its feeding on young game birds seems con- clusive enough, we are not prepared to state to what degree this has developed. SANDGROUSE The Sandgrouse (Family Pteroclidse) are represented in South Africa by four species falling under two genera. They are characterised by a small beak devoid of a cere, and the legs are feathered to the junction with the toes. There are three species of Pterocles which are immediately SANDGROUSE 205 distinguishable from the single member of the genus Ptero- clurus by the tail feathers being rounded, whereas the latter bird has the two centre feathers pointed and projecting beyond the other. They lay two or three eggs on the bare ground, where the protective coloration of the eggs renders them difficult of detection. The Variegated Sandgrouse (Pterocles variegatus), called the Geele Patrijs (Yellow Partridge) by the Afrikanders, can easily be recognised by the small rounded spots of white which adorn the back and breast. Length, 9J inches. It is not found South of the Orange Eiver nor West of the Western Transvaal. The Yellow-throated Sandgrouse (P. gutturalis) or Nacht Patrijs (Night Partridge) is without the white spotting characteristic of the first species, but has the under tail- coverts of a plain dark chestnut which renders it easily recognisable from the following species which has the under tail coverts thickly barred with black. Length, 11 inches. This bird ranges from Little Namaqualand to the Central Transvaal. The Double-banded Sandgrouse (P. bicinctus) has the forehead and a band across the fore part of the head white, divided by a black stripe ; and has the additional charac- teristic above mentioned of the barred tail coverts. Length, 9 inches. It was very common in the Pretoria Bush veld during November and December of 1913, and we have shot it every winter in the same locality. The Namaqua Sandgrouse (Pteroclurus namaqua) needs no further description than the attenuated centre tail feathers. Length, 11 J inches. The Boers call it the Namaqua Patrijs (English, "Namaqua Partridge"). It is commoner and more generally distributed in South Africa than any of the 206 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD other species. It is particularly common in the dryer portions of the Cape where the bird's plumage harmonises with the scrub and sand of its karroo home. The Sandgrouse are partly migratory in habits and live chiefly on weed seeds and grain. They fly in flocks at sunrise and sunset to the nearest water, when excellent shooting can be obtained by lying up near the water, as the flight is fast, and fine sporting shots are obtainable. FRANCOLINS The Francolins (Family Phasianidae) are locally known as Pheasants and Partridges, and to the Boers as Patrijse. There are two genera of Francolins : — (a) Head, neck and throat covered with feathers . .Francolinus. (b) Head and neck feathered, throat bare Pternistes. To the former belong the " Partridges " and to the latter the " Pheasants," numbering thirteen species all told. The members of this family are not easy of concise description, and we must refer the reader for detailed information to the excellent Vol. IV. of the " Birds " in Sclater's " Fauna of South Africa," or to C. G. Davies' lovely plates in Major Horsbrugh's book on " South African Gamebirds." The Francolins — apart from their economic value as food for man — are of great utility to the farmer on account of their seed and insect eating propensities. They are fond of digging for small bulbs and roots, and from this the idea of the Boer farmer that they are detri- mental to potato crops probably originates ; they bear in consequence no love for the Francolins, accusing them of stealing mealies, potatoes, &c. More than one farmer has told us that he destroys all nests discovered, and all the arguments in defence of our little feathered friends could not bring these self-opinionated old farmers to see the error of their ways. FRANCOLINS 207 Mr. Thomsen, Chief Locust Officer of the Transvaal, says they are invaluable in the destruction of locusts, as they not only feed on voetgangers, but scratch up and eat countless locust-eggs. In the Cape Province the two best known species are the Fig. 113. — Orange River Francolin chicks hatching out. Cape Eedwing (Francolinus levaillanti) , and the Grey- wing or Cape Partridge (F. africanus). The latter bird, generally known as the Berg Patrijs (Mountain Partridge), is also found north of the Orange Eiver. North of this dividing line the Cape Eedwing is replaced by the closely allied Orange Eiver Francolin (F. gariepensis), also known as the Eooivlerk Patrijs. This bird is fairly common along the rocky ridges 208 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD Fig. 114. — Cape Redwing Francolin at nest. CRANES 209 in the Orange Free State, and the accompanying photograph was taken at Springfontein, where it is plentiful. Their noisy call — so exhilarating to the sportsman — may very frequently be heard at sunset amongst the long grass and stunted scrub on the crests of low stone koppjes, its favourite locality at that hour. It may also be found in the open glades of the thick mimosa-bush scrub which fringes the spruits and water-courses, where it adds considerably to the " bag " of a day's " shoot." It rises suddenly and flies with great rapidity, consequently shootingit is no easy matter. It makes its nest in a depression in the ground under a tuft of grass, herbage, or ripening grain-stalks, and lays five to nine eggs of a dark fawn colour spotted with brown. The second genus (Pteruistes) contains three species of purely bush-loving birds easily recognised by the bright red bare skin round the eye and on the throat. The two southern species may be known as the Eastern and Western Cape Eednecked Francolin (P. nudicollis and P. castaneiventer), ranging as far north as Natal, and differing from the northern form (P. swainsoni) by having the feathers of the breast and belly with white centres. The latter bird has the back more vermiculated, and is also smaller. It is very common in the Pretoria bushveld, and forms a fair proportion of the sportsman's bag. All three species are found in thick bush, where they sometimes take refuge in a tree when flushed. They nest under a tuft of grass beneath a bush or tree, and lay from six to eight eggs. CRANES The members of the Family Gruidae are true ornaments of the veld, being stately birds, and are represented in the sub-continent by three conspicuous species. The Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) is slate- 210 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD black on the back, with the wing and tail-feathers black ; top of head dark slate ; cheeks and neck white : entire under surface black. The face is covered with warts from the base of the beak to the eyes, while below the throat there are two pendant lappets, bare in front but feathered on the hinder surface. Length, 56 inches. Fig. 115. — A pair of Wattled Cranes. It is not a common bird anywhere, and is generally seen in pairs or small parties on the open veld near marshy localities, or in the neighbour) d of dams or vleis. It has become scarcer year by year, and latterly the Zoo has only received examples from the Belfast District of the Transvaal. It, feeds on frogs and insects, varied by an occasional meal of grain. The eggs are pale olive-brown, lightly marked with darker. The Blue or Stanley Crane (Anthropoides paradisea) is a much commoner and better-known species. It is of a pale CRANES 211 212 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD blue-grey colour throughout, excepting the crown of the head, which is white, and the apical portion of the secon- daries, which are black. Length, 48 inches. It is confined to South Africa ; we found it particularly plentiful on the " flats " of the Orange Free State, in the Brandfort and Winburg districts, and in the Central Trans- vaal at certain seasons. It feeds on a variety of substances, including locusts and other insects, small reptiles, and the like. It congregates into flocks during the winter months, separating into pairs in the breeding season. It lays two large pale-brown eggs (with sometimes a greenish tinge), spotted and blotched with purplish and dark brown, and measuring generally about 3| inches in length. The young, when unfledged, boar quite a singular resem- blance to young ostrich chicks. These become very tame in captivity, and may often be seen stalking about the farmyards. The Ciowncd Crane (Balearica regulorum), known also by the vernacular names of " Kaffir Crane " and " Mahem," is easy of recognition in its slate, white and black plumage, velvety black crown, ornamented by a large crest of pale- yellowish bristles, and the patches of naked red and white skin on the cheeks. Length, about 40 inches. It ranges from the Cape Province to Khodesia, and over to the northern portion of South- West Africa, Like the Blue Crane, the Mahem assembles into flocks during the winter, and pairs off to breed in the summer. It prefers the open veld, but is seldom found far from moist localities, such as vleis or rivers, where it seeks its food consisting of frogs and lizards, locusts and other insects. Unlike its congener, the Blue Crane, it breeds in a swamp or \ lei. constructing its nest of reeds, rushes, &c, just above the sui lace of the water, and lays two eggs of a bluish- white colour. BUSTARDS 213 BUSTARDS The Korhaans (Family Otididce^are fairly numerous in South Africa, twelve species being found within our limits . The male of the Black Korhaan (Otis afra) has the crown ashy and ear coverts white ; rest of head, neck and under- pays black ; wing black with a white band. This bird is confined to the Cape Province, being replaced north of the Orange Eiver by the White-quilled Korhaan (0. afroides), which closely resembles it, but has the primary wing feathers wliite on the inner web, only the tips being black ; quills white below, whereas they are black in 0. afra. The females of both species are without the black and white variegations. The White-quilled species ranges from the north of the Cape Province to the Transvaal. Length of both species about 21 inches. Both birds are usually found in pairs on the flats, where their harsh croaking call may be heard at almost any time of the day. They are not easily located except when the male protrudes his black head above the level of the grass ; when flushed he flies up with a loud cackle ; they afford good sport and are good eating. They have now been removed from the list of gamebirds and added to that of the utility birds on account of their insect-eating habits. The Vaal Korhaan (0. vigorsi) is ashy-grey above, shaded with pink and speckled with dark brown ; below paler with a beautiful pink sheen, which is seldom seen in the prepared skin, as it fades after death. Length, 24 inches. The White-necked Paauw (Otis ludwigii) is larger than any of the Korhaans, and is distinguished from the Stanley Paauw (0. caffra) by the arrow-shaped markings of yellowish on the back, and by the mottled buff cross bands on the 214 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD tail : the latter bird is without the arrow-shaped spots of sandy buff, and has the tail cross-barred with white. The former bird is also smaller, being aboul 40 inches long to the latter's 43 inches. In the Brandfort district, Orange Free State, the latter FlG. J 17.— Blue breasted Korhaans. (Photo. Horsburgh.) i- fairly common, being found on the Hals singly or in parties of (luce to seven individuals. When disturbed they fly up with a loud croaking call quite unlike that of the Korhaans. The Black-bellied Korhaan (Otis melanogaster) is easily distinguished by the characteristic indicated by its trivial name. viz. the black under-parts. Length aboul 21 inches. BUSTARDS 215 It is not common anywhere, ranging from East London to Ehodesia. Mr. Claude Taylor procured it in the Zout- pansberg district., and on the Swaziland border. I shot a couple near Monze, Northern Ehodesia, in November, 1918 ; they were the only Bustards seen. The Blue Korhaan (Otis ccerulescens) is easily recognised by the slatey-blue colour of the back of the head, neck, and under-surface of the body. Length, about 22| inches. It is considerably larger than the Black Korhaan, and is delicious eating. It was not exactly plentiful in the Orange Free State prior to the Act protecting them, but the writer met with it in the neighbourhoods of Bloemfontein, Brandfort, Lindley, Winburg and Kroonstad. It is perhaps commonest in the latter district, where it may be found going about in pairs or parties of three to five individuals. In May, 1918, we found them quite common on the way from Brandfort to Marquard, so that protection has evidently been beneficial. We found them exceedingly common on the veld near the Aapies Biver just north of Waterval North in the Pretoria District ; they were, however, anything but tame. Barrow's Korhaan (Otis borrovii) can be distinguished from the preceding bird by the patches of tawny on either side of the chest and the white abdomen. Length, 21 inches. According to Butler, this is the commonest species in Upper Natal. The last and largest of the Bustards is the stately Gom Paauw or Kori Bustard (Otis kori), which has a total length of nearly 5 feet, and weighs about 30 lbs. It has a black crown with lengthened feathers forming a conspicuous crest ; below white, with a band of dark brown across the chest. Length. 58 inches. 216 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD This bird derived its Boer name from its supposed fondness for the gum which exudes from the bark of the Mimosa tree. It is fairly evenly distributed over South Africa, but it is nowhere common. All the bustards lay two eggs, of some shade of pale brown blotched with darker, on the bare veld in a mere depression in the ground. They are for the most part insect feeders, varying this by a few berries, a little grain, and weed seeds. Apart from their economic value as food, they do an immense amount of good by devouring termites and locusts, caterpillars, and other insect pests. They are now strictly protected by law. DIKKOPS The Family (Edicnemidse is represented in South Africa by two somewhat similar species. The largest of the two, the Bush Dikkop (CEdicnemus ccvpensis) is pale brownish above mottled with black ; breast sandy coloured fading into white on the belly. Legs and feet yellow. Length, I8f inches ; wing, 9 inches. It inhabits the open thorn scrub, finding its way occa- sionally on to the flats, but seldom wandering far from the " bush '" localities. It may be found in small parties during the winter months, but pairs off in the breeding season. It feeds chiefly on various insects and seeds. It has a loud plaintive call which may often be heard on bright moonlight nights, a fact which has earned for them the name of Moonbirds in some districts. Its flesh is excellent eating, and the bird formed at one time no mean item in the sportsman's bag, both in the scrub of the Orange Free State veld and in the plantations along the Band. It has now been added to the list of utility birds, and is protected by law. It lays two eggs of a greyish colour spotted and blotched DIKKOPS 217 with dark and light brown, and measuring about 2 inches by 1J inches ; these are deposited in a mere depression in the ground. The Water Dikkop (CE. vermiculatus) is slightly smaller Fig. 118. — Cape Dikkop's eggs. than the Bush Dikkop, and has the back vermiculated with dusky brown ; the feathers with black shaft streaks. Under- surface much like that of the first-mentioned species. The legs and feet are greenish-slate, which in itself is quite sufficient to distinguish this bird from the other species. Length, 15| inches ; wing, 8 inches. The Water Dikkop is fairly common in the neighbourhood of some of the vleis in the Brandfort and Winburg districts of the Orange Free State. 218 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD The eggs resemble those of the Bush Dikkop, but are a little smaller. Fig. 119.— Water Dikkop. COURSERS The Coursers are included in the Family Glariolidae by Mr. Sclater, and form a separate Sub-family, the Cursorinaa. the second Sub-family being the GlariolinsR containing the Pratincoles or Locust Birds, which were dealt with in the Second Chapter. COURSES S 219 There are five varieties of Coursers in South Africa, birds which are locally called " Draverkies " {lit. Trotters). They have long legs, no hind toe, long pointed wings and a short square tail. The Kufous Courser {Cursorius rufus) is reddish-brown above, back of head slate-blue surrounded by a U-shaped Fig. 120. — Rufous Courser, with egg. edging of white which springs from above the eye, and runs between two black lines. Breast similar to the back with a black patch on the lower portion, rest of under- pays white. Length, 8| inches. This species ranges from the high veld of the Cape through- out South Africa to the Limpopo. It is very common on the flats of the Orange Free State, where it may be found in flocks or small parties, often consorting with the Two- banded Courser. It is exceedingly partial to the burnt stretches of veld, where it feeds on seeds and insects. It is 220 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD excessively fond of termites and ants, and it is only necessary to break open an antheap to trap any number of them, a plan commonly practised by the Barolong boys in the Maroka district. It runs rapidly, rising when disturbed with a guttural cry of " kek-kek, kek-kek." It lays two eggs, of a pale yellowish-brown thickly spotted and streaked with black and dark brown, in a mere depression in the soil. Eggs may be looked for from the middle of September to November. The Black-winged Courser (C. temmincki) differs from the Kufous Courser in having the whole crown chestnut- rufous (no blue hinder portion) and its darker wings. It is somewhat scarce and a migratory visitant. It is sometimes found consorting with Burchell's Courser. The young of both species are mottled above. The second genus (Bhinoptilus) contains three species, only one of which is comparatively common. The Two-banded Courser (B. africanus) can be readily distinguished from the two previous species by the spotted appearance of the upper surface, and the two black bands across the chest. Length, 9 inches. It ranges from the Cape Karroo to the Transvaal and South-West Africa. It is much like the Bufous Courser in habits, and, as already stated, they may often be found in one another's company. We discovered it to be fairly common in the Maroka and Brandfort districts of the Orange Free State. It is never found in such large parties as the Bufous Courser, being usually in pairs or fours. It lays on the bare ground a single egg, which is pale yellow streaked with yellowish- brown. Two more species are found in South Africa, but they are uncommon, although one, the Bronzewinged Courser PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS 221 (B. chalcopterus), has repeatedly been seen in the Pretoria district of late. In May, 1920, I flushed several small Fig. 121. — Bronze wing Coursers (Crowned Lapwing on right). coveys of them from the old lands on the Sand Kiver. Its chief characteristic, the beautiful metallic purplish spots at the end of the flight feathers, is sufficient to distinguish it. PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS Only a few members of the Family Charadridae can, with justice, be termed " ornaments of the \7eld," the greater number being water-loving birds which will be found in another chapter. As they are of undoubted benefit to the farmer, they are now protected by law. The Blacksmith Plover (Hoplopterus armatus) has the fore part of the head, base of neck, sides of body, abdomen, upper and under tail-coverts white ; wings grey ; rest of plumage black. Length, 12 inches. It ranges from the Central Cape Province to the Zambesi. It is seldom found far from water, frequenting the neighbour- hood of swamps and vleis. In the Orange Free State it is not uncommon near the dams and vleis, where its peculiar metallic call (from which its trivial name is derived) may often be heard during the day or on moonlight nights. 222 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD It lays two to four eggs of a pale yellowish colour, thickly speckled with black. The Blacksmith Plover feeds on worms, insects, snails and similar animal matter, thus being of practical benefit to the farmer. The Crowned Lapwing (Stephanibyx coronatus), called by the Boers the Kivietji, is too well known to require much of a description. Its black head adorned with a white V- shaped mark, long red legs and pale drabish-brown back will serve to distinguish it from the other plovers. Length, 12 inches. It is distributed throughout South Africa except the Natal littoral. It is an exceedingly common bird on the flats of the Orange Free State, where it usually congregates into flocks of varying number. It afforded good sport when hunted with a dog, circling in the air above the canine, and giving vent to loud plaintive cries, but is now protected by law as an insect eater. Its characteristic call is truly typical of the veld, and is well known to every South African sportsman. It may also often be heard on moonlight nights. It is a good friend of the farmer, feeding on insects of various kinds and weed seeds. The flesh is palatable. It lays its eggs — usually three in number and of a yellowish- brown colour blotched with dark and purplish-brown — in a slight hollow on the ground. The Black- winged Plover [S. melanopterus) has the front of the crown white and the hinder portion slate coloured. Length, 10 \ inches. Although fairly widely distributed, it is not a very common bird. Like the Crowned Lapwing and the Coursers, it is very partial to burnt stretches of veld where it usually nests, laying its three or four eggs in a depression in the soil ; it PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS 223 Fig. 122. — Crowned Lapwing at nest. 224 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD is very bold in defending its eggs. These may be searched tot during the months of August to October, and do not differ very much from those of the Crowned Lapwing. FlG. 123.- — Black-winged Plover and eggs. OSTRICH The last bird which may be included in this chapter is the well-known and long domesticated ostrich (Struthio australis). This enormous member of the Avian race is included in a separate sub-class, the Katitse, possessing no keel to the sternum or breast bone. The Ostriches form the Family Struthionidse, of which the African Continent possesses several species. In the old " voortrekker " and pioneer days, the Ostrich roamed over the veld in a perfectly wild state, in company with the Gnus and Antelopes, but since about 1870 has been OSTRICH 225 domesticated and farmed like cattle, its feathers forming a lucrative article of commerce. In some portions of the Transvaal, Ehodesia, Bechuanaland and Portuguese East Africa troops of wild birds still exist, and it is to be hoped that steps will be taken to preserve these as much as possible. Q o Ph 226 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD In parts of the Transvaal Bushveld, even in the Pretoria District, wild ostriches arc si ill fairly cofnmon, and we have seen small flocks, as well as nests full of eggs every year. It la}'S large straw-coloured eggs, the shell being pitted with tiny pores. The nest is merely a depression hollowed in the ground. Fig 125. — Albino Ostrich. During the year 1904, 470,381 lbs. of feathers valued at £1,058,988 were exported. Several serious diseases have developed in the Ostrich and its feathers ; these important matters are receiving the close attention of Dr. Duerden. Professor of Zoology, Rhodes University College, Grahamstown, to whose interesting papers in the Cape Agricultural Journal and Proceedings of the South African Association for Advancement of Science we must direct the reader for full particulars. Dr. Duerden's work is such as to earn the gratitude of all South Africa. OSTEICH 227 j4 o CHAPTER VIT THE BIEDS OF KIVEK AND VLEI KINGFISHERS The Kingfishers form the Family Alcedinidse, with live genera. They are nearly always found in the neighbourhood of water, and nest in holes tunnelled in banks and lay shiny white eggs. The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is of a general mottled black and white plumage ; crown crested ; a white collar on the nape of the neck ; the underparts white with, in the case of the male bird, two black bands across the chest, the female possessing but one. Length, about Hi inches. This bird is found throughout South Africa. We met with it at Port Alfred (exceedingly common) . Grahamstown (fairly common), Fort Beaufort district, Modder and Valsch Rivers, O.F.S., Modderfontein, Irene, Crocodile and Aapies River, Pretoria district. At Port Alfred it is quite common on the beach, where it may even be seen fishing in the sea. It procures its food by hovering over the water and diving headlong, being often completely submerged. Besides lish it feeds on frogs and Crustacea. The Giant Kingfisher (Ceryle maxima) — called the Groote Vischvanger by the Dutch is the largest member of the family in South Africa, with a total length of about 17 inches, it is black and while above, the white taking the form of circular spots ; throat and abdomen white, marked 228 KINGFISHERS 229 < 230 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI with black, lower throat and breast reddish-chestnut or rust colour. The female differs in having the breast white spotted with ashy-grey, the lower breast and abdomen being rufous. Fia 128.— Halt-collared Kingfisher Like its smaller congener, it is found along most of the South African rivers, and on the coast at their mouths, but it is not nearly so common. The Half-collared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitonjituiu), called KINGFISHERS 231 the Blaauwe Vischvanger or Blue Kingfisher, is blue above ; throat white, and under-surface pale tawny-yellow, except a blue patch on either side of the chest. Length, 7 inches. It is rather common in the Albany Division and at Port Alfred (Kowie Biver) ; we also met with it on the Hennops and Crocodile Rivers in the Pretoria district. It Fig. 129.— Malachite Kingfisher. is a shy, quiet bird, seldom met with far from water, lives principally on small fish. It The beautiful little Malachite Kingfisher (Gorythornis cyano stigma) is one of the smallest of our river birds, and is a conspicuous figure with its bright blue upper surface, 232 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI black-barred chest, reddish-buff underparts and coral-red bill and legs. Length, 6 inches. It may be seen sitting on a reed or tree, or darting up and down the surface of the water, emitting its shrill cry of " peep peep " ; it frequents almost every stream or dam in the country. We have taken its eggs — from four to six rounded ovals of a shiny white (when unblown and fresh, of a pale salmon- pink owing to the yolk shining through the shell) — from holes in the bank of a donga or furrow near Grahamstown in September to November and at Modderfontein in November. The Natal Kingfisher (Ispidina natalensis) differs from the Malachite Kingfisher in being smaller and in the posses- sion of a rufous-brown collar, and darker underparts. Length, about 5 inches. It ranges from Port St. John through Natal and Zulu- land to the Zambesi. The Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris) has tin' top of the head varying from an ashy to a dark brown, streaked with darker ; a whitish collar round the neck ; back and shoulder patch black ; rump regions and tail cobalt-blue: throat white, merging into a pale fulvous on the lower breast, streaked with dark brown. Length, 8| inches. This bud ranges from Swcllendam eastwards through the Cape Province, mid northwards to the Northern Transvaal. It is a noisy, fearless bird, and subsists chiefly on insects of various kinds, millepedes and small fish. The nest-hole is usually very foul-smelling. The eggs are generally four or five in number. KINGFISHERS 233 Fig. 130. — Brown-hooded Kingfisher near nest hole. 234 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI There is a smaller rather closely allied bird, the Striped Kingfisher (H. chelicuti), which need not concern us here. The Angola Kingfisher (H. cyanohucus), easily recognisable by the upper mandible being red while the lower is black, and the Mangrove Kingfisher (H. senegaloides) are scarce birds within our limits. CORMORANTS The Cormorants (Family Phalacrocoracidce) are essentially sea birds, but two of the species have been recorded as breed- ing on inland waters. The White-breasted Duiker (Phalacrocorax lucidus) is white on the sides and forepart of the neck, from the throat downwards, extending to the upper breast : rest of under- surface and the most of the upper parts black. The head is adorned with a few lengthened feathers, and the tail contains fourteen rectrices. Length, about 3 feet. This bird is found all along the South African coast, and inland it has been recorded from Kroonstad by Barratt, Vredefort Road (Hamilton), Rhodesia (Marshall), and, more recently, from the Compies River, near the Swaziland Border, by C. H. Taylor. It breeds on most of the islands off the Cape Coast, and Sparrow found a pair nesting in a willow tree on the shore of a vlei at Bethlehem, Orange Free State, in May. The eggs are pale blue and of a chalky texture, and may be looked for at almost any season. This Cormorant dives and swims with great facility, and. like all its kind, feeds on fish, mollusca, Sec. The Long-tailed Cormoranl (Phalacrocorax africanus) is of a general Mack colour, relieved by a little greyish on the wings and a few white feathers on the sides of the face and neck. The forehead is ornamented by a tuft of upright PELICANS 235 black feathers, and the tail consists of twelve feathers. Length, about 2 feet. It is almost as often met with on inland waters as on the coast, being found on most of the rivers. It swims low in the water, only the top of the back, head and neck being visible. Layard found it breeding in large numbers on the Berg River in September, W. Sclater on Dassen Island in July, so that its breeding season appears to be irregular. The eggs are similar to those of the previous species, but are smaller, and the nest is either placed on a rock or in a tree or bush. Like its congeners, it is a swift, strong flyer. The Snake-bird (Anhinga rufa) has the back of the head, neck and upper back dark brown, speckled with dark reddish and black, the lower back, wings and tail black ; sides of the head and neck adorned with a white stripe and a black band ; lower part of neck and underparts black. It has a straight, slender bill and a long, snake-like neck, which gave to the bird its trivial name. The feet are fully webbed. Length, 31 inches. It is found along most of the larger rivers, but is nowhere exactly common. It feeds almost exclusively on fish. It is a great diver, and usually swims very low in the water, only the head and long neck being visible. Layard and Dr. Stark found the Darter (as this bird is also called) breed- ing on the Berg River in the Cape Province, and the latter describes the nest as a bundle of sticks situated in a willow- tree. The clutch varies from three to rive and the eggs are elongated and shiny-white, with the Cormorant-like under- lying bluish layer. PELICANS The Eastern White Pelican (Pelecanus roseus) is of a general white colour, tinged with rose- pink, a shoulder 236 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI patch and the wing quills black ; a patch of pale yellow on the breast. The head is ornamented with a small crest of narrow feathers, and the bill is flat, with a large patch of naked skin below it. Length, about 5| feet. Tail of 22 or 24 feathers. Besides being found on the sea-coast, this bird was met Avith by Andersson on Lake Ngami, by Alexander on the Zambesi, and by Bryden on the Botletli River ; it has also been recorded from one or two other inland localities. There is another smaller species with a tail of 20 feathers (Pclicanus rxfescens), whose portrait we append. Fig. 131. — Pink-backed Pelican. H Andersson found this bird breeding near Lake Ngami. The eggs are" elongated white ovals. Pelicans subsist on fish, the pouch below the beak being used as a bag for carrying their food. HERONS AND EGRETS 237 HERONS AND EGRETS The true Herons (Family Ardeidce) are represented in South Africa by four species, the first of which is the huge Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath), with a length of over four feet. Upper parts slate colour except the top of the head and neck, which are ruddy-brown. Below, chin and throat white, a black line down the front of the lower half of the neck ; lower feathers lengthened to form a sort of " apron " ; rest of under-surface maroon. Length, 53 inches. It is evenly distributed over the sub-continent, being inland perhaps commonest at Potchefstroom. There is a fine mounted example with nest and three eggs in the Pretoria Museum, obtained by C. B. Horsbrugh on the Modder River, Orange Free State. The nest is usually a platform of sticks, reeds, and sedge, placed on the weeds in a marsh of vlei, or in the branches of a tree overhanging water. The eggs are clear pale blue, and oval in shape. The Goliath Heron is found singly or in pairs, usually at the mouths of rivers. It feeds largely on fish. The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is pearly-slate above and along the sides of the body ; top of head, neck, centre of breast and belly white ; lower front of neck with black patches ; on either side of the breast a series of pendent purplish-black feathers. Length, 40 to 41 inches. This bird is found over almost the whole of the Old World, and throughout the African Continent. Like all the Herons, it is found singly or in pairs, and may be seen standing on the bank of a dam or stream sunning itself or watching for fish and frogs. It also feeds on reptiles and insects. It nests in much the same localities as the Goliath, and the eggs are pale blue. Roberts found fresh eggs in September. The Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanoce/phala) has the top of the head (which is crested), ear coverts, back of neck, 238 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI tail and wings black ; above blackish-slate ; below slate- grey with the lower part of the neck clothed with lengthened plumes. Length, 38 inches. This species ranges all over the sub-continent, and resembles the others in habits. The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) has the crown black ornamented by two long plumes ; above slatey ; lower breast dark maroon, darkening towards the abdomen ; lower neck and upper breast pale rufous. Length, 35 to 36 inches. It ranges from Central Europe to the Cape. In habits and nidmcation it resembles the other members of the genus. There are three species of true Egret in South Africa, all pure white in colour. The Great White Egret (Herodias alba) is the largest, with a wing measurement of 14 inches ; the head is only slightly crested. Length, 38 inches. The two smaller species (wing 12 inches) are the Yellow- billed Egret (H. brachyrhynchos), characterised by its yellow bill and slightly crested head, and the Little Egret (H. garzetta), which has the bill black, and a pair of long plumes on the nape. The Egrets are fond of marshy localities and feed on fish, frogs, and the Jike. The Great Egret does not breed in South Africa, being a migrant from Europe and Asia. The other two species are fairly evenly distributed over the country, breeding here, but are only common in certain localities. The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is white throughout, excepting the decomposed plumes of the head, neck, and centre of back, which are buffish-pink. Length, 21 inches. It is not uncommon in many localities, except in the west of the Cape Province, whence it has only once been recorded. We found it fairly common along the Aapies HERONS AND EGRETS 239 River near Waterval North in the Pretoria District, where it roosted nightly in flocks on the drooping branches of some trees growing on the bank ; at sunset the birds could be seen flying in long lines from the veld, where they had been freeing the cattle of their ticks (often the birds' main article of food). Harold Fry discovered this Egret nesting on the Vaal River, near Parys, Orange Free State, in November, and Roberts, near Balmoral, in December. The eggs are pale blue in colour. The Green-Backed Heron (Butorides atrica'pilla) has the top of the head, back and tail glossy dark green ; below ashy grey except for a streak of rufous down the centre of the breast ; chin, centre of throat and front of neck white. Length, about 16 inches. It is found in the east of the Cape Province, the lower- lying portions of Natal, ranging northwards. There was a pair of these pretty little Herons in the National Zoo- logical Gardens caught when in immature plumage at Six-mile Spruit, near Pretoria. The Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) has the crown and back greenish-black ; neck and the best part of the wing dove-grejr ; rest of plumage snowy white, including two long plumes springing from the back of the head. Length, 22 inches. It is widely distributed throughout South Africa. We found it common on the Valsch River at Kroonstad in April, 1906 ; there was quite a large proportion in the immature grey dress. It is somewhat nocturnal in habits, spending the greater part of the day amongst the thick trees and reed beds bordering the river. The nest is a saucer-like platform of sticks, and the eggs are pale greeny-blue. 240 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI The White-backed Heron (N. leuconotus) has a white patch on the back and the neck is bright chestnut. Sclater gives only three known records of its occurrence in South Africa : Bathurst by Atherstone, near Durban by Barber and Hex Kiver, Bustenburg by Lucas. To this we can add Port St. John, Pondoland. C. G. Davies, C.M.B., favoured us with the loan of a water-colour painting made by him of a specimen procured at that place. Fitzsimons of the Port Elizabeth Museum has recently informed us of the receipt, in August, of a fine example from Hankey, a village not far from Uitenhage, and we have obtained a pair from the Hennop's Biver, near Pretoria. BITTERNS The Bitterns (genus Arietta) number three species, of skulking habits, inhabiting thick reed-beds and rushes, which are in consequence but little known, and are seldom seen by the ordinary individual. They are somewhat Heron- like in appearance, but are smaller. IBISES The Sacred Ibis (Ibis cetkiopica) is pure white excepting the head and neck, which are black and devoid of feathers ; the wings are steel-green and metallic purple. Length, about 3 feet. This bird ranges throughout the African Continent, being found on most of the inland waters in South Africa, many resorting to the coast islands to breed in sprjng. Its food consists of crabs, mollusca, worms, &c. It constructs a platform of rushes or seaweeds amongst the rocks. Boberts found a colony of these birds breeding on a " pan " near Balmoral Station in the Transvaal on December 11,1 904. The nests were built on the rushes about 6 inches above the surface of the water, and contained each from two IBISES 241 to three eggs — these were of a dirty white colour, some marked with light brown round the obtuse ends, but the majority were hardly marked at all. Besides eggs, young in all stages of growth were found. The Hadadah Ibis (Theristicus hagedash) is olive-green Fig. 132. — Hadadah Ibis on nest. above, the wing coverts being metallic ; the wing quills and tail dark purplish-blue ; head, neck and under-surface ash-grey. Length, 30 to 81 inches. This bird is not uncommon in certain localities. We found it breeding near Grahamstown ; the nest — a saucer- shaped structure of stout sticks lined with moss and grass — is built on the lower branches of a tree, generally over- R 242 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI Fig. 133.— Nest and eees ol Eadadab Ibi IBISES 243 hanging water ; the eggs number three and vary from a creamy tint to greenish-buff and creamy- brown, marked with liver-brown blotches and streaks. One nest discovered in the Albany Divn. was situated in a tree quite 40 feet from the bottom of the kloof. During the winter the Hadadah Ibis congregates into flocks. F. Thomsen of the Fig. 134.— Wood Ibis. Transvaal Agriculture Department reports having seen them in large flocks — as many as several hundreds together — devouring voetgangers (immature locusts). They feed on other insects as well, and are thus of considerable economic value to the agriculturist and should certainly be protected, although considered excellent eating by many people. 244 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI The Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) is of a dark metallic green colour, with the head bald, red in colour, and the bill long and red. Length, about 31 inches. It is a rare bird in South Africa, and is sometimes known to the Boers as the Wilde Kalkoen (Wild Turkey). The Wood Ibis (Pseudotantalus ibis) is of a white colour above, suffused with rose-pink, especially on the wings, where the wing-coverts are in addition barred with crimson- lake. The wing quills, feathers and tail are black with a metallic green sheen. The crown and sides of the face and throat are naked, and are of a red colour, edged with yellow. Neck and underparts white ; bill ^yellow ; feet brick-red with the toes black. Length 43 to 47 inches. Young birds are brown above. This is a tropical African species, occasionally ranging southwards, it being rare south of the Zambesi Biver. The Zoo contained an example collected near Pretoria, a portrait of which I append. It is found along river-banks, where it searches for its food on the edge of the water or in the shallows. FLAMINGOES There are two species of this specialised type of bird in South Africa, recognised by their long legs and necks and the remarkably shaped bill, which is abruptly bent down- wards about the middle of its length ; plumage white, washed with roseate pink, the wings being black and crimson. The Greater Flamingo (Phcenicopterus roseus) is easily distinguishable from the Lesser bird (Ph. minor) by the difference in size, the former having a length of 55 inches against one of 39 inches in the case of the latter species. They are fairly common along the coasts and on many of the inland waters. Dr. Symonds records the greater Flamingo from Kroonstad district, and we have seen it GEESE AND DUCKS 245 in flocks on some of the vleis between Brandfort and Bult- fontein, Orange Free State. It is reported by several observers as breeding in South Africa. Fig. 135. — Greater Flamingoes. It breeds regularly in the South of Spain. Little is known in South Africa of the smaller species. The African Spoonbill (Platalea alba) is white, with a red crown. Length, 35 inches. Bill long, flattened, and spoon- shaped. It is not common. GEESE AND DUCKS The Ducks, Geese and Swans form the order Anseres, whereof South Africa possesses but a single sub-family (Anatince) containing eleven genera with eighteen species. The Spur- winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis), known to the Boers as the Wilde Makaauw (wild Muscovy), is glossy black with metallic reflections, the sides of the head, throat, and lower neck, breast, belly, and edge of wing 246 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLET white; the wing armed with a sharp spur ; bare skin on the top of the head, with the knob and bill red. Length, about 3 feet. This species has been but seldom recorded from the Cape, but is quite common on the vleis of the Orange Free State, often consorting in flocks with ducks and other waterfowl, the vleis being literally covered with aquatic birds at certain seasons. It may be seen in captivity on some farms, in a semi- domesticated condition, having been reared from the egg. It takes a lot of shot, being exceedingly tough in the adult stage. The eggs are shiny white and nearly 3 inches in length. The Southern bird has been separated by Sclater under the name of P. niger, and is darker in coloration and smaller in size : it has much less white on the face and wings. The Dwarf Goose (Nettapus auritus) is, as its trivial name indicates, a very diminutive member of the goose tribe. It is dark metallic-green, brown, black and white in coloration and is quite a neat, handsome little bird. Length, only 1 foot. It is met with along the coast and on some of the larger rivers, and we procured it at Port Elizabeth. The Egyptian Goose (Chenalopex cegyptiacus), better known ■** W Fig. 136. — Egyptian Geefie (enlarged to show detail), in South Africa as the Berg Gans (Mountain Goose), is a pretty graceful bird; it is black above, except the crown, GEESE AND DUCKS 247 Fig. 137 — A pair of Egyptian Geese. 248 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI which is white ; nape and neck greyish fawn, with a narrow pale chestnut collar; the wings are ashy brown ; below greyish- white and pale chestnut, the sides of the body and lower neck being grey mottled with fine bands of black. The ring round the eye and round patch on the breast — both bright chestnut — will serve to easily distinguish this bird from any of its kind. Length, 28 inches. It ranges through the whole of South Africa, being common on the vleis of the Orange Free State at certain seasons, where it breeds amongst the rushes, laying pure white eggs, five to eight in a clutch. This bird has been recorded as breeding on a cliff, and even amongst the grass and rocks of a kopje on the veld. In the photograph (Fig. 137) the geese have commandeered the disused nest of a Hammer- head ; the nest can be seen on a ledge of the cliff near the top of the picture (left centre), the entrance-hole projecting downwards. The bird in the foreground has the wing outspread, showing the conspicuous white patch. We have kept this goose repeatedly in captivity, but it is pugnacious in the poultry yard, pursuing and per- secuting ducks and fowls alike. Its harsh barking quack (so aptly described by Andersson) is irritating in the extreme, except when heard in the wilds. The Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undnlata), known to the Boer farmers as the " geelbek," is perhaps the commonest and most widely spread of the South African Ducks. ( ieneral colour ashy- brown, mottled withwhite; a speculum of metallic blue or green on the wing margined by Mack. Bill yellow with a black central streak on the culmen. Length, nearly 2 feet. This bird was fairly plentiful on the Modderfontein dams during August, 1907. It is perhaps the commonest duck in most parts of South Africa. The Black Duck (Anas sparsa) is almost black in colour, GEESE AND DUCKS 249 Fig. 138.— Black Duck. Fro. 139.— Nest and eggs of Black Duck. (Photo. L. E. Taylor.) GEESE AND DUCKS 251 speckled with grey on the head and neck ; the metallic speculum is surrounded by a black band, which is bordered in front and behind by a white stripe. Length, 2 feet. Mr. Taylor found this bird breeding under a tuft of rushes on a little island at Irene (dist. Pretoria) in July, 1905 ; the nest contained eleven eggs. The Cape Widgeon (Anas capensis) is often confused with the Bed- billed Teal, but can be distinguished by its green speculum. The Eed-billed Teal (Anas erythroryncha) is called the Smee-eendje. It is brown above, the feathers of the back being edged with pale salmon-pink ; below white, nearly every feather with a half-round spot of ashy- black near the tip ; bill pink with a brown stripe down the centre of the mandible. Length, 18 to 19 inches. It nests amongst the reeds and rushes on the bank of a river or vlei, or even on the weeds growing in the water. The eggs have been described as greenish-white, and also creamy-brown. As we have never been fortunate enough to take the eggs ourselves, we cannot say which is correct. The European shoveller has been recorded from South Africa by W. G. Fairbridge, of Cape Town. The Cape Shoveller (Spatula capensis) is a scarce bird. In addition to the localities given in Stark and Sclater " Birds of South Africa," a male in beautiful plumage was procured by me at Modderfontein, Transvaal, and is now in the Transvaal Museum. The South African Pochard (Nyroca capensis) is of a dark brown colour, the male having the centre of the back and upper wing feathers finely speckled with whitish ; a white band on the wing. The female is paler, is without the 252 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI freckling, and has the lower surface mottled with white and brown. Length, 20 inches. It is fairly generally distributed over South Africa. It arrives at Modderfontein in August, leaving again in April. The eggs are pale creamy- white. The White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) is widely spread throughout the sub-continent. The top of the head and the throat are black ; above and below of a yellowish- brown colour mottled and barred with black ; centre of Fig. 140. — Nest and eggs of White-backed Duck. (Photo. Haagner.) back pure white. Bill, short and stumpy, and of a blue and slate colour. Length, 17 inches. Within our limits it is widely distributed, but remains so far unrecorded from Ehodesia. It is an expert diver, and seldom flies, although it can and does fly when perse- cuted. It rests in the water, amongst the weeds, with the whole body submerged, only the top of the head as far as the eyes and the bill being exposed, which is all the mark usually available to aim at. They are not bad eating at times, although somewhat oily. The nest is a saucer of sedge, rushes and weeds, built on the beaten-down weeds growing in the water, and is usually well concealed. GEESE AND DUCKS 253 The nest, of which we append a photograph, was situated on weeds growing in about three feet of water in a dam, twenty yards or so from the shore, and contained six eggs, varying from a greenish creamy- brown colour to a warm pale brown. The addled eggs had a slightly greenish tinge, and were somewhat blotched, probably owing to the action of the mud and water. The nest was lined with a few of the feathers of the ducks themselves. The Knobbill Duck (Sarkidiomis melanota) is black above with coppery and green reflections ; white below, and the Fig. 141.— Knob-bill Ducks. head mottled. The male has a wattle- like " comb " on the upper mandible, which becomes very large during the breeding season. There are also yellow feathers on the sides of the lower abdomen. Length 30 inches. Female smaller and without the knob on the beak. This Duck — also known as the comb duck — is found in India, Madagascar, and tropical South Africa, and although nowhere exactly common, ranges as far south as the Orange Eiver. We found it breeding in some numbers on the pools of the Crocodile Eiver, Pretoria District, in May and June, 1916, and several young ones were collected. The ducklings are striped like those of other 254 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI ducks and then become dark greyish-brown before donning full adult attire. We also found the White-faced Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) breeding in the same spot and procured a number of young ones. Both these occurrences are new records for the Pretoria District— or more properly the Transvaal. This is an extremely pretty duck, the back being maroon colour banded with brownish ; the front half of the head and neck white, rear half black, lower back and centre of lower parts black : sides of body and Hanks banded black and white. Length 18 inches. It has a wide range, including South America, tropical Africa and Madagascar. II is rare in South Africa. It has a clear whistling cry. All the ducks seem to be very irregular in their breeding habits, so far as season is concerned, and the probable explanation of it is that they are double-brooded. Take the White-backed Duck as an example : A. I). Millar found nests in November, December and February, while the clutch photographed was found on April 21, 1899. RAILS AND CRAKES The Bails and Crakes are birds of retiring habits, haunting the reed-beds and thickets in marshy localities, and are consequently but seldom seen and little known. The Kaffir Rail (Rallus ccerulescens) is dark brown above, merging into slat ey- blackish on the crown : throat white ; rest of under-surface slatey-blue, merging into black on the abdomen, thighs and flanks, these being haired with white. Length, 10| inches. Bill and feet bright red. There are two true Crakes in South Africa, the European species (Crex pratensis) and the African (('. egregia). Above brownish with blackish centres to the feathers ; below brownish in the former and slatey in the latter on the breast, WATER-FOWL 255 and the lower portions rufous banded with white in pratensis, while egregia has transverse bands of black and white. The European bird measures 9f inches to the South African bird's 1\ incln >. There are two species of spotted Crakes (Ortygometra), for which we must refer the reader to larger books. The best known Crake in South Africa, perhaps., is the little Black Crake (Limnocorax niger), with red legs and a greenish bill to relieve the general black of its plumage. Length, 7-f inches. It is fairly well distributed over the sub-continent. WATER-FOWL The Moorhen (Gall inula chloropus) — the Rooi-bles Hoender or Rooi-bles Riet Haan — is black in colour, fading into a slatey shade on the under-surface. Frontal shield red. Basal portion of bill red, remainder greenish-yellow. This is widely spread species, being also found in Europe and Asia. Length. 13 inches. The Lesser Moorhen (Gallinula angulata) is considerably smaller than the preceding species, being only 9| inches in length : it has no red on the lower mandible. The King Reed-Hen (Porphyria porphyrio) is olive-green above ; back of the head, breast and belly purple- blue ; face, throat and upper breast blue. Frontal shield red. Length, 18 inches. This handsome bird is a denizen of thick reed-beds and arum-patches, where it lies concealed the best part of the day, searching for its food, which consists of shoots of plants, seeds, worms, &c, in the mornings and evenings. It breeds amongst the reeds, usually placing its nest on a platform of reed-stems, and laying from four to eight eggs 256 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLE1 Fig. 142. — King Reed-hen or Purple Gallinule (From a mounted specimen. PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS 257 of a pale brown spotted and blotched with purplish and reddish-brown. The Eed- knobbed Coot or Bles Hoender (Fidica cristata) is of a general dark ash-brown or sooty colour throughout, darker (almost black) on the head and neck, and paler (greyish) on the abdomen. Bill and facial shield pale blue, the knobs of the shield being dark red. Length, 16 to 17 inches. It is widely spread throughout South Africa, wdierever suitable localities occur. It may be found on vleis, rivers and dams, in companies of varying number. On the vleis of the Orange Free State, it is sometimes so numerous, consorting with wild duck, spur- wing geese, and other water- fowl, that the surface of the water is literally black with the birds ! It flies well and is an expert diver. It feeds in the morning and towards sunset, on insects, weed seeds and plant shoots. It has two curious calls, the one a trumpet- like grunt, and the other a shrill vibrating whistle. Contrary to Bry den's experience, we found this bird anything but good eating, the flesh usually being of a muddy and fishy flavour. However, if young, and if the skin is removed before cooking, it is fairly palatable. It builds its nest amongst the rushes and reeds ; this is merely a platform of aquatic plants resting on the water. The eggs are three to seven in number, and of a pale tawny colour spotted with blackish-brown. We found it breeding in some number on the Florida Lake, near Johannesburg, during August. PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS The little Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris) is called the Strand-looper (Shore-runner) in most parts of the country, and is found almost everywhere within our limits. 258 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI It is brown above with a white ring round the top of the head ; below white, with two black bands crossing the chest. Length, 6| inches. It may be seen on the flats alongside roads, or running along the shore of a vlei or river. Its call is a sharp squeak, r*- 'ii- * , • •• -.- , • Vg , !>' IF o — two • -a J — a t< L4 TO o |>» tTH o s 9 O a* © Ha I a « 8 2& 264 BIRDS OF THE SEA AND COAST has the neck of a speckly nature, is larger (length, 27 to 30 inches), and has only twelve tail feathers. It is much scarcer than the above species, but like it, breeds on the Guano Islands off the South African coast. The eggs resemble those of the Trek Duiker, but the nest is different, being composed of seaweed. Of the Gannets {Family Sulidce) the Cape Gannet or Malagas (Sula capensis) is also well known on the coast. It is a white bird with the tail and portion of the wings dark brown. The naked skin round the eye, and about six inches down the throat, is black. Length, about three feet. The young bird is dark brown, speckled with white. It breeds on the Guano Islands off the coast already men- tioned, and together with the Cape Cormorant supplies most of the guano collected annually. It lays a single egg in a hollow in the ground or in a depression scratched in the layer of manure. ORDER LIMICOL^l Many of the Plovers and Sandpipers are found along the coast, as well as on the inland rivers and lakes. Some of them have already been dealt with. Suffice it for us now to refer to a few of the commoner littoral species. The White-fronted Sand Plover (Charadrius mar- ginatus) is of a pale ashy-grey colour above, and white below. In the breeding plumage it has a black band across the forehead, and a huffy tinge on the breast. Length, 6| inches. It is essentially a shore bird, and is a common resident. Like the Three-collared Sand Plover, it lays two blotched and marbled eggs in a depression in the mud or sand. The Black Oyster Catcher (Hcematopus moquini) is quite black with a red bill and legs. Length, 21 inches. It is ORDER GAVIJE 265 also a coast bird, feeding upon small fish, crabs, etc. It lavs from one to four eggs in a mere depression in the sand. The Sandpipers, etc., are a large group, the individuals of which require descriptions too long for a work of this nature, and the student or reader must therefore refer to the more extensive monographs or text-books. ORDER GAYI^E The Southern Blackbackecl Gull (Lams dominicanus) is white, with the exception of the mantle and wings, which are blackish. Bill yellow wit h a reddish tip to the lower mandible. Length, 24 inches ; wing, 17 inches. It is common all along the coast, and lives upon the garbage thrown overboard from the ships, insects, shellfish, and it even feeds upon the dead bodies of seals and whales. Its eggs may be looked for during the months of November and December. They are deposited on the sand of the sea- shore, and are usually three in number, and of a brownish- green colour spotted with pale and dark brown. There are two species of gull which resemble one another somewhat, the Grey-headed Gull (Larus cirrhocephalus) and Hartland's Gull (Larus Jiartlaubi). The latter is distinguished from the former by its white head and neck, while these regions, as its vernacular names indicates, in the former species, are grey. These two species are of much the same size, measuring 15 to 16 inches in length, and both species have red legs and a red beak. The grey-headed gull is, however, a more inland species than the others, being found in colonies on many of the inland waters. The various species of Terns resemble one another so closely that only the commonest need concern us here. The Common Tern (Sterna fluviatilis) is white below 266 BIRDS OF THE SEA AND COAST 3 a 49 I ORDER TUBINARES — ORDER IMPENNES 267 and pearl-grey above, the top of the head being black. Bill and legs red. Length, 12 to 13 inches. It is very plentiful in Table, False and Algoa Bays. ORDER TUBINARES The Cape Hen (Majaqueus cequinoctialis), rejoicing in the inelegant name of Stinkpot amongst the sailors, is very common along the coast, but is seldom seen near to the shore. It is of a sooty black colour with a white patch under the chin. Length, 21 inches. The Giant Petrel (Osstfraga giganteus), better known to sailors as the Mutton Bird, is a large plain-coloured brown bird with a pale green bill. It measures about three feet in length. I have seen it in Table Bay and at Port Elizabeth. The Cape Petrel (Daption capensis) or Cape Pigeon, as it is usually misnamed, is of a white colour with a slatey-black head and neck, and the upper side is spotted with slate- coloured markings. Length, 14 inches. This is a common bird in the Cape seas during the winter and early spring months (April to October). The Mollymawk (Diomedia melanophrys) has the middle portion of the back, the wings and tail, slate-black. The rest of the plumage is white. Length, 32 inches. This albatross is common in Algoa Bay and Table Bay. ORDER IMPENNES The Common or Jackass Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is perhaps one of the weirdest of living birds. Like the ostrich it is utterly devoid of flight, but its wings are still more degenerate, being modified to form mere paddles. It 268 BIRDS OF THE SEA AND COAST ORDER IMPENNES 269 is black and white in colour and measures about two feet in length. The bird is, however, easily recognisable from a photograph. It is very common along the South African coast, resorting to the Guano Islands to breed. It dives with great celerity and exists solely on fish which it captures for itself. It is ungainly on land, and either waddles along in an upright position or wriggles on its belly by the aid of its nippers. It obtains its vernacular name from its donkey- like call. The eggs are collected by the Government, and sold as food, being eaten chiefly by the Malays, although many white people acquire the taste for them. The " white " of the egg does not boil opaque, like a hen's egg, but remains of a thick jelly-like substance, although it may be boiled for ten minutes or so. 5 CHAPTER IX BIKD-PAKASITES There are but two groups or families of true parasitic birds in South Africa, viz. the Cuckoos and the Honey- guides. Several of our birds utilise the nests of other members of the Avian class, but as they do not leave their eggs to be incubated by the original or rightful owner, per- forming this duty themselves, they cannot with justice be included under the heading of " Bird-Parasites." HONEY GUIDES The Honey-guides (family Indicatoridce) are a small family of interesting birds, chiefly remarkable for their habit of guiding man and animals to the nests of bees. Their structure, resembling that of the cuckoos in some respects, but more closely according with that of the Barbets, has occasioned some considerable diversity of opinion as to their classificatory position. Originally placed with the cuckoos, they were subsequently elevated to the rank of a separate family. They were also placed in the Barbet family by some authors, a position favoured — amongst others — by F. E. Beddard, F.B.S., the Prosector of the London Zoological Society, who includes them in the Capitonidae in his excellent work : " The Structure and Classification of Birds." They resemble the Cuckoos in the arrangement of the 270 HONEY-GUIDES 271 toes, the first and fourth being directed backwards, while the two middle ones are projected forwards ; in their parasitic habits they also resemble the Cuckoos, but differ in several marked structural characteristics. The wing is long and pointed, and not as in the Capi- tonidae, short and rounded. Primaries nine in number, the first one being almost as long as the second. The bill of the adult is of medium length, fairly stout, and with a slightly swollen formation towards the tip. The young bird (fledgling) has a pair of sharp, strong tooth-like hooks welded on to the end of the bill, one on either mandible. These peculiar appendages apparently fall off when the bird is nearly or fully adult, so we presume the use they have is to assist the young Honey-guide to obtain a firm hold of its foster brethren when ejecting them from the nest hole of the rightful owners of the nest. These hooks on the beak of the young bird are in themselves sufficient to relegate the Honey-guides to a family of their own. The nestling Indicator has the swollen nostrils characteristic of the Cuckoo-nestling, but instead of being rounded as in the Cuculidge, they are elongated and oval, being more in the shape of slits. The stories told of the honey-guiding instincts of these little birds are innumerable, dating from the days of Sparr- man and Livingstone. They feed principally on insects and honey. South Africa possesses five species falling under two genera : — a. Tail of twelve feathers . . . . Indicator. b. Tail of ten feathers . . . . Prodotiscus. The White-cheeked Honey-guide {Indicator indicator) is dark brown above, a golden-yellow patch on the shoulder ; ear-coverts white, rest of cheek and throat black in the 272 BIRD -PARASITES HONEY-GUIDES 273 male, the latter white in the female ; rest of under surface dirty white. Length, about 7| inches. It is widely spread all over the African Continent, but is nowhere exactly common within our borders. It is thoroughly parasitic in its habits ; we have talc en its egg from the nest of the white-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis), and from the nest-hole of the Wood Hoopoe (Irrisor viridis). The egg is oval in shape, and pure creamy white in colour (see centre figure, Row 3, page 276). The Yellow-throated Honey-guide (Indicator major) is olive-brown above, the rump region being white ; ear- coverts black ; throat and breast yellow, the rest of the under surface being creamy- white. Length, 7 inches. This species is also found in most of the Bush and Forest Regions of South Africa, and is not uncommon in the neigh- bourhood of Grahamstown. Here Mrs. Barber observed it using the nest-hole of the Black-collared Barbet. We found an egg in the nest of a Drongo-shrike in November, 1894. The bird usually — according to our experience — makes use of the nest-hole of the Pied Starling. It seems as if the Honey-guides occasionally break the eggs of the foster- parent, to make room for their own. In row 2, left centre figure, we give an illustration of the smaller egg of the Honey- guide, along with a clutch of Syreo bicolor, two of which are badly smashed. The Scaly-throated Honey-guide (Indicator variegatus) has the forehead mottled, rest of head and neck greenish merging into a bright olive on the back ; throat white streaked with black ; breast yellowish mottled with dusky, giving a scaly appearance to this region ; rest of under-parts yellowish- white. Length, 1\ inches. It ranges from the south-eastern portion of Cape Province 274 BIRD-PARASITES to Zululand, and has been recently recorded from the Northern Transvaal by L. E. Taylor. We give an illustration of an unfledged young bird of this species, showing the remarkable development of the beak. This specimen was taken from the nest-hole in a willow-tree, belonging to a pair of Diamond Sparrows (Petronia petronella). The Honey-guide had previously been seen in the tree, and we found no young sparrows, these having evidently been ejected by the young Honey- guide. On one occasion when encamped near the Zwartkops Eiver in the neighbourhood of Uitenhage, one of these birds led us on six different occasions to bees' nests. The bird would come and perch on some tree close to the camp and commence calling " cha, cha, cha," to attract our attention. We followed it as it flitted before us from tree to tree, and eventually located the nest, while the little guide flew round us, keeping in the neighbourhood of the place, but not coming up to the spot. The Lesser Honey-guide (Indicator minor) is of an olive tinge above, greyer on the head and neck ; ear-coverts whitish bordered below by a dark stripe ; under surface greenish-grey, fading into whitish on the abdomen and under tail-coverts. Length, 6| inches. It is the commonest and most widely distributed species, being found in all the wooded tracts. Like the other members of the family it goes about singly or in pairs, and feeds on bees, wax, honey and various insects. The Black-collared Barbet is the usual host of this little Honey-guide, and we append a photo- graph of one of these guides sitting near the entrance to the nest-hole of one of the Barbets ; the head of the Barbet may be seen protruding from the aperture. When encamped in a gorge near Bluekrantz in the Uitenhage division of the HONEY-GUIDES 275 Cape Province, we witnessed an instance of the persistence with which the Honey-guides appropriate the nests of other birds. We saw the bird fly to the nest-hole illustrated below, and endeavour to enter. The male Barbet opposed this and was afterwards assisted by his spouse, who fiercely attacked the Honey-guide, pursuing it down the kloof, chattering and fighting all the while. In a few minutes the Honey-guide Fig. 148. — Lesser Honey-guide at nest hole of Black-throated Barbet. reappeared and the same thing was repeated for over an hour. We then shot all three of the birds and found the Honey- guide with an egg actually protruding from the oviduct. Two fresh eggs of the Barbet were found in the nest-hole (vide Fig. 4, page 276), the centre egg is that of the Honey-guide. The Brown Honey-guide (Prodotiscus regulus) is brown above and white below, the throat and flanks being washed with brown. This is a rare bird in South Africa. 276 BIRD-PARASITES Fig. 149. — Eggs of Honey-guides with those of hosts. 1. Egg of Lesser Honev-guide with those of Black-collared Baxbet. 2. „ „ Yellow-throated do. „ „ Pied Starling. White-cheeked Unknown do. do. \V I Hoopoe. \Y I lit i-t hroated Swallow. cuckoos 277 CUCKOOS The true Cuckoos are a fairly numerous family in South Africa, and form the first Sub-family (Cuculince) of the Family Cuculidce, the second Sub-family being the Coucals (Centwpodince), already dealt with in our chapter of Denizens of the Forest. The parasitic habits of the Cuckoos were made known to science a good many years ago, and innumerable stories were told of the European Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), many of them exaggerated. So far as our Cuckoos are concerned, they are all true parasites, foisting their eggs upon a variety of birds, from the tiny Cotton-tit to the Black Crow. In many instances the female may lay her egg direct in the nest of the foster-parent, but what happens in the case of the Cappok-vogel ? It is physically impossible for even our smallest cuckoo to obtain ingress into the nest, so the only practical hypothesis is that she lays her egg on the ground and conveys it to the nest in her bill. Many instances of this have been witnessed, by reliable observers, in the case of the European Cuckoo. The very masterly essays on the parasitic habits and nidification of the Cuckoos, by the late Professor A. Newton, of Cambridge, are too long to reproduce here, and we must refer the reader, who wishes to understand something of the variation in the colour of the Cuckoo's egg, and the diversity in the selection of the foster- parent, to his admirable " Dictionary of Birds." There are three genera of the Cuculince in South Africa, the first two having no crest on the head, but easily dis- tinguishable from one another, the first genus, Cuculus, possessing no metallic plumage, while the members of the second genus (Chrysococcyx) are strongly metallic in colora- tion ; the third genus (Coccystes) has the head distinctly crested. 278 BIRD-PAEASITES s '- r -. t a I) 0"9 B-s - go hOg - 6 o > ^ o J-. i2 j- _i