Ornithologij of the Matupo District. 207 



within the hills. I have found it breeding in January 

 and February, and have noticed that when the young are 

 hatched these Kestrels become very j)ugnacious. I have 

 personally seen them sally forth to drive away Ravens, 

 Storks, and even a Bateleur, which had dared to encroach 

 upon their self-appointed preserves ! On one occasion I saw 

 a male pass a mouse to its mate on the wing, evidently so 

 that he could continue hunting whilst she fed the young. 

 1 have frequently noticed this Kestrel abroad after nightfall. 



70. X Buho lacteus. Giant Eagle-Ovvl. 



Sind. " isikova," applied to all the larger species of Owls. 



Not uncommon within the hdls, where its loud sepulchral 

 hoot is frequently heard at night. On the surrounding 

 veld, however, it is far rarer, and I have only noticed it on 

 Mataba mpisi. Pellets examined have contained remains of 

 guineafowl and pigeon (probably Coluniba phdeonota) . The 

 hoot of this fine Owl has been mistaken for the bark of a 

 baboon, but to my ear it more resembles the "coughing^' 

 of a leopard. 



71. J Bubo maculosiis. Spotted Eagle-Owl. 



Common and resident throughout. The Spotted Eagle- 

 Owl seems to prefer rocks to trees in this district, and I 

 have almost invariably found them in caves or flushed 

 them from amid rocks and boulders on the kopje-sides. 

 Castings examined have contained remains of small birds, 

 mice, and, in one case, the mutilated prothorax and elytra 

 of a large beetle. 



72. Asio nisuella. Marsh-Owl. 



Asio capensis (Smith) ; Scl. iii. p. 241. 



I have so far only found the Marsh-Owl in the open 

 country, although it is extremely likely to be eventually 

 recorded from some of the streams within the hills. On 

 Lucydale farm I first noticed it on the 26th of January, 

 1912, and from then until the 1st of April it was usually to 

 be found somewhere in the locality. This Owl is evidently 

 a migrant with us, as the country is far too dry and scorched 



