60 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



The Black-breasted Coucal (Centropus grilli), called by 

 Mr. AV. L. Sclater the Natal Coucal (C. nigrorufus), seems to 

 be not uncommon in the Lydenburg District of the Transvaal. 

 It ranges from Natal through the Transvaal and Rhodesia 

 over to the West Coast. It has the head and entire under- 

 pays black, thus differing materially from the preceding 

 species. Mr. J. C. Ingle has recently sent us a pair collected 

 near Pilgrimsrest, Lydenburg District. It is much smaller 

 than C. burchelli. 



The Green Coucal (Ceuthmochares australis) is easily dis- 

 tinguishable from all the other species by its green colour. 

 It extends along the east coast from British East Africa to 

 Natal ; it is not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Durban, 

 whence A. D. Millar records it as breeding in November. 

 Length, 13 J inches. 



OWLS 



The Owls (Order Striges) number amongst them some 

 of the farmers' most energetic friends, notwithstanding all 

 manner of silly superstitions attached to them, and pertina- 

 ciously believed in by the ignorant. They feed largely on 

 mice, rats, insects of various kinds and occasionally on birds. 



The Striges are divided into two families, the Strigidce, 

 containing two species of the Barn Owl type, and the Buho- 

 nidce, a large group containing divers fori i is. 



The Barn Owl (Strix flammea) is a bird common to Europe 

 and Asia. Professor Pieichenow, however, separated the 

 South African bird under the name of Strix flavuma 

 maculata. It is pearly-grey in colour, vermiculated with 

 darker grey and spotted with brown above; dirty while 

 below spotted with angular drop-shaped spots of brown. 

 Length about 15j to Hi inches. 



It is known to the Boers as the Dood-vogel, from a popular 

 belief that if one of these birds screeches on the roof of a 

 house one of the inmates is sure to die. 



