Birds in the Cradock and Tarkastad Districts 185 



Bubo capensis (Cape Eagle Owl). — I have so far only come 

 across this owl in the Tarkastad district. On October 6th, 

 1919, I found its eggs. They were laid on the edge of a 

 water furrow under the shelter of a large stone. 



Strix flammea maculata (Cape Barn Owl). — As far as I can 

 ascertain this is an uncommon Owl in both districts. I have 

 certainly seen very few specimens. I came across it nesting 

 in a hollow in the banks of the Fish River at Halesowen, and 

 in a deserted nest of Scopus umbretta on Aug. 25 th in the 

 Tarkastad district. The clutch of eggs in the last instance 

 numbered 7. 



Clamator serratus (Black Crested Cuckoo). — I have never seen 

 this Cuckoo in the Tarkastad but have often observed it in 

 the Cradock district. At Halesowen I have taken its egg 

 from the nest of Lanius collaris, and Pycnonotus capensis 

 nigricans. The egg is pure white. 



Clamator glandarius (Great Spotted Cuckoo). — This cuckoo is 

 common in both districts. It is usually found in company 

 with Spreo bicolor, this bird being its only host in these parts. 

 The egg is blue, spotted with dark brown chiefly on the larger 

 end, where it tends to form a ring. 



Chr})sococc\)x cupreus (Golden Cuckoo). — This species is found 

 in both districts in good numbers. The usual host is Ploceus 

 velatus and Passer melanurus. I have taken eggs in October, 

 December and January. On skinning a female shot at 

 Halesowen I found an egg just ready to lay. It was pale 

 bluish in colour, spotted with fair sized irregular spots of 

 brown and underlying markings of purplish grey. It corre- 

 sponded exactly in colour and shape to an egg once taken 

 from a nest of Anthus rufulus cinnamomeus. Another egg 

 taken from the nest of P. melanurus resembled the Sparrow's 

 eggs very closely. Several eggs from nests of Ploceus velatus 

 resemble the Weaver's eggs closely being pale blue in colour, 

 spotted with browns. The Cuckoo's egg can always be 

 distinguished by the difference in texture of the shell and 

 colour of the yolk. 



L L I B H A R Y!^: 



