CHAPTER VI 



OPNAMENTS OF THE VELD 



CROWS 



The first member of the Family Corvidae we have already 

 dealt with in the opening chapter. 



The Pied Crow (Corvus scapalatus) could also, with some 

 justice, have been included in the same chapter. It is 

 glossy black (with purplish and steely-blue reflections) 

 except the back of the head, sides of neck, upper back and 

 breast, which are white. Length, 18 inches. 



The Dutch vernacular name, viz. Bonie Kraai, is equivalent 

 to the English one. 



It inhabits practically the whole of Africa south of the 

 Sahara Desert ; in the sub-continent it is fairly generally 

 distributed, but is not found in the coastal portion of Natal. 

 I found it fairly common around Monze Biding, Northern 

 Khodesia, in November, 1918. 



This crow eats almost anything, from offal and carrion 

 to shellfish, insects, and animal parasites, such as ticks, &c. 



Its nest — usually a roughly- constructed saucer of sticks 

 lined with moss, wool and similar material — is either situated 

 on the ledge of a krantz or in a tree. Eggs from three to 

 six, of a bluish-green ground colour, streaked and spotted 

 with various shades of brown. 



The Black Crow (Corvus capensis) is of a general glossy 

 black colour. Length, 18 inches. 



This bird is somewhat local in distribution, being common 

 in some districts and not known or scarce in others. 



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