NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



man, It Is one of the best, and to kill It or rob its nest is a cowardly 

 and senseless act. When resting on a branch or on a fallen tree 

 it sits lengthways along the wood and settles close down. 



The nest Is merely a depression on the ground In which two 

 creamy- white eggs are laid. These eggs are marbled and veined 

 with brownish-black and black-grey. 



Night-jars occur In all parts of South Africa. 



When seizing a large moth in the air the bird closes its 

 mandibles with a snap and shears the insect's wings off. 



The note is long drawn out and mournful — chur-chur- 

 chur-chur-r-r. The night-jar sits so close on her eggs that 

 she will almost allow herself to be trodden on before she rises 

 and flies off. I have seen a flock of sheep swarm over the 

 ground on which a night-jar was sitting on her eggs. The bird 

 flapped her wings and made so effective a demonstration of 

 indignation that the sheep sheered aside and left her and her 

 eggs untouched. 



Malachite Kingfisher {Coj-ythomis cyanostigma). (Vol. 

 II., p. 49.) 



Description. — Male : upper parts ultramarine-blue shaded 

 with violet. Head with a crest, the feathers of which are 

 banded across with blue and black. Throat white. Ear 

 coverts and under parts reddish or rufous-buff. Iris brown. 

 Bill and legs coral red. 



Lengthy 5.90 ; tail, l.O ; wing, 2.3. 

 The female resembles the male. 



Distribution. — -Africa, south of the Sahara to the Cape. 

 It occurs in all the provinces of the Union of South Africa 

 and in Rhodesia. 



Habits. — -This little living gem of a bird frequents the 

 streams, ponds, and marshes. It is usually seen sitting on a 

 twig or reed overhanging the water on the watch for prey. 

 Should a small fish swim near, It instantly dives after it, dis- 

 appearing under the water and emerging with a dart Into the air 

 with the fish in its mandibles. When fish are scarce it feeds 



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