04 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



spruits or rivers, and in marshes, where it usually consorts 

 in parties of from three to six individuals. We have found 

 them common at Modderfontein, Transvaal. It nests on the 

 ground in swampy growth, and lays two to four white eggs. 

 Its food consists of lizards, mice, frogs and insects. 



The White-faced Owl (Asio leucotis) is of a mottled and 

 streaky grey appearance above. Facial disc white with a 

 strongly-marked black margin behind, which is clearly seen 



Fig. 34. — Young Cape Eagle Owl. 



in (he three individuals of our photograph. Below much 

 like the back but of a more barred appearance ; abdomen and 

 undertail coverts while narrowly barred with black. Length, 

 12 to 12| inches. It is found from the Orange River north- 

 wards to Somaliland but, within our limits al any rate, seems 

 nowhere very plentiful. We have seen it in the Pretoria 

 District and the Bushveld. It lives on small rodents such as 

 rats and mice, and insects such as locusts and grasshoppers. 



