1 62 The Bird 



grasshoppers which occasionally devastate that region. 

 In the antipodes we find a gull with crepuscular habits, 

 whose entire food consists of night-flying moths. 



Birds in captivity may sometimes be induced to eat 

 food which they would never touch when in a state of 

 freedom, but there are three species of birds the variety 

 of whose natural diet will challenge that of any living 

 creature. The first is a Burrowing Owl. This bird will 

 not disdain vegetable food, and in its underground dining- 

 chambers have been found remains of ducklings, spar- 

 rows, mice, and many other small birds and rodents; 

 snakes and frogs, besides spiders, beetles, and apparently 

 all small forms of life which these little birds are able to 

 catch and kill. But leaving even the Burrowing Owl 

 far behind in this respect is the Chimango Carrion-hawk 

 of southern South America. Hudson tells us that noth- 

 ing comes amiss to these birds. The vulture habit is per- 

 haps strongest, and all offal and decaying meat is pounced 

 upon with eagerness. All wounded and sickly creatures 

 are closely watched until they die, or, if the opportunity 

 offers, are despatched at once. When a large extent of 

 grass is burned, bountiful repasts are ready for these 

 birds in the shape of roasted snakes and small mammals. 

 Eggs and young birds are especial dainties for the Chi- 

 mango, and young sheep are often attacked, bringing to 

 mind the Kea Parrot. The bird is, at times, a vegetable- 

 feeder, and in fact it would be hard to find any organic 

 object near its home, the edibility of which it has not 

 tested. 



The Red-winged Starlings of South Africa during 



