Birds of Alhant/ J)ivisto)t, Cape Coloni/. 77 



discover their food more by siglit than from any sense of 

 smell. 



2. CoRvus CAPENSis, Licht. Black Crow. 



Fairly plentiful, flying in family parties of six to a dozen 

 individuals during the winter months, and feeding on both 

 grain and animal food. In i October they pair off and begin 

 to build — sometimes in a high tree in a solitary situation, but 

 oftener among the trees in a wooded kloof. The nests — 

 deeply cupped — are well made for such large structures and 

 are composed externally of small branches, and lined with 

 fine roots and fibres. A tame specimen learnt to imitate 

 human voices, but could not articulate words. It mimicked 

 the fowls and a terrier-dog to perfection, so much so that 

 visitors were repeatedly taken in by the bird. 



3. *BuPHAGA AFRICANA, Linn. Yellow-billed Oxpecker. 

 One specimen, now in the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, 



rode four miles into town on the horse of a local resident, and 

 was eventually knocked over with a riding-whip. This is, so 

 far as we are aware, the only record of its occurrence in 

 Albany. 



4. Creatphora carunculata (Gmel.). Wattled Starling. 

 [DilopJms earuncnlatus, Stark, Birds S. A. vol. i.] 



A flock nested close to the Chumie River near Koonap in 

 December 1905. The nests — about 50 in all — were packed 

 into a space of almost as many square yards. Small trees 

 were literally enveloped in three or four nests. Other trees 

 contained but a single nest. These latter measured about 

 two feet by one foot, and every one examined contained two 

 apertures on the same side. On January 20th the birds 

 deserted the nests, leaving a few young ones and a number 

 of eggs to perish and decay. During the winter months they 

 are found in smaller numbers consorting with the common 

 Spreo bicolor near Grahamstown. 



5. Amydrus morio (Linn.). Red-winged Starling. 

 Common everywhere, and a great fruit thief. 



