SHRIKES 



159 



The Tits usually nest in holes in trees, occasionally in cavities 

 in rocks, laying white eggs sparsely marked with pale red. 



Fig. 89.— Black Tit at nest hole. 



SHRIKES 



The Shrikes (Family Lanidce) are well represented in 

 South Africa by three subfamilies with eleven genera. 



The handsomest member of the family is perhaps the Long- 

 tailed Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus), in its garb of glossy 

 black and pure white, and very long tail. Total length, 15 

 to 18 inches, whereof the tail measures from 10 to 13 inches. 



It is fairly common in the Transvaal Bushveld, doing a 

 great deal of good by devouring locusts, grasshoppers and 

 other insect-life. It builds a large rough cup-shaped nest 



