45



colony, and is very gregarious ; the Common Spreo (Sfireo

bicolor) is found everywhere, and congregates in small flocks;

frequenting grazing grounds to feed upon the insects attracted to

the dung of the cattle; and the Red-winged Spreo, or Cape

Glossy Starling (Amydrus morio), is equally widely distributed ;

it feeds chiefly on fruit, but is said to be also fond of small

mollusca aud crustaceans.


The preceding are all insectivorous or soft-food eaters ;

and I find that the)' have occupied so much space that I shall

have to reserve the account of other groups for subsequent

papers. A mere list of the birds would I think be of little

practical use ; and certainly would not be especially interesting

to many of our members. I may mention here that negro boys

are the most reliable bird-catchers in S. Africa; and a ‘ lickie'

(3d.) is their price for each bird caught: I do not know whether

I have correctly spelt the word.



BREEDING OF THE BLACK-HEADED OR NANDAY


CONURE.


f Conurus nenday or nandayj.


By Mrs. Johnstone.


(Continued from page 215 of Vol. VII).


The Nanday Conure is, I always think, an extremely

handsome bird ; his jet black head, and tail and wings tipped

with black against the brilliant contrast of vivid green, with the

scarlet stockings, make him a much admired bird in my aviary.


His harsh screaming voice is not attractive, and is his one

drawback; for he is most affectionate; and he and his wife are

more like the proverbial Lovebird, for they are never separated,

and always roost back to back in a hollow tree.


They commenced nesting rather late, about the beginning

of June, in a log nest composed of a portion of elm log, hollow,

and the ends boarded up, leaving a hole at one end. The hen bird

was never seen to enter the hole, and the nest remained only

conjecture for some time; but the cock always sat some feet

away, and screamed lustily if anyone approached.


They were much too clever, when the young were hatched,

to allow anyone to see them enter the log nest; and at last,

assured by my man who feeds the birds that they had not even

been near the nest for days, feeling sure they had deserted it, I

forced up one of the boards at the end of the nest and discovered



