16 IRRISORID^ IREISOR 



any gloss at all ; the distal half of the greater coverts are also 

 entirely white and form a much more prominent alar speculum 

 than in the adult ; the culmen is also shorter ; in the ease of a 

 male nestling it measured 1-15, as against 2-2 in the adult. 



Distribution. — The Kakelaar is found only in the southern and 

 eastern districts of the Colony from Knysna onwards to Stocken- 

 stroom, Grahamstown and the Transkei. It seems fairly abundant 

 throughout Natal, the Transvaal, Mashonaland, Bechuanaland, and 

 Damaraland in suitable localities. The following are the chief 

 recorded localities in Cape Colony — Knysna, Port Elizabeth, 

 Alexandria, Albany, Stockenstroom, Peddie, East London and Port 

 St. John's ; in Natal — Durban, Pinetown, Newcastle, and Zululand ; 

 in the Transvaal — Swaziland, Lydenburg, Eustenburg and Potchef- 

 stroom; in Khodesia — Tati, Umfuli river and Zambesi valley. 

 Beyond South African limits this hoopoe extends to Angola on 

 the west and to Nyasaland, German and British east Africa. 



Habits. — The Kakelaar is only found in forest and bush 

 districts ; here in small parties of four to eight birds they are not 

 uncommon, chiefly frequenting the highest trees, unceasingly hunt- 

 ing the crevices of the bark for insects, especially cockroaches, 

 which form their favourite food ; they creep about like Wood- 

 peckers, and thus frequently wear away their tails against the 

 rough bark. All observers are agreed that their loud and harsh- 

 resounding chattering, which is constantly maintained, is very 

 tiresome and disagreeable. The birds are restless, shy, and extremely 

 wary, and also are endowed with an exceedingly disagreeable 

 odour which proceeds from the bodies of the birds themselves, and 

 is specially noticeable during the breeding season. Mr. Ivy informs 

 me that in the neighbourhood of Grahamstown he has found the 

 the Kakelaar occupying the deserted nest of a Woodpecker in a 

 Yellow- wood tree {Podocarpus) , and that three blue eggs are laid. 

 This is further confirmed by Mr. Millar, who writes as follows : — 

 "This bird is generally distributed throughout Natal, and may be 

 found in small family parties, their presence being indicated by 

 a constant chattering. Towards the end of September, 1899, I 

 observed a small party of three inspecting the entrance of a recently 

 constructed Black-collared Barbet's [Lybius torquatus) nest, about 

 20 feet from the ground. Upon taking possession and peering into 

 the hole, it was evidently decided that the entrance was too small, 

 in consequence of which first one and then another started pecking 

 away with the object of enlarging it ; this led me to think the birds 



