Egg-CvUedlng in the Bashveld. 19 



The Large African Kestrel [Cerclineis rupicolo'ides) is 

 essentially a bird of the open veld, but is occasionally to 

 be seen in the bushveld. A specimen was procured to the 

 N.E. of the pan. 



Giant Eagle-Owl (Bubo lacteus). — The remains of a 

 specimen were found on a road to the InI.W. of the pan, 

 having apparently been shot by some passing Boer. 



The Cape Spotted Eagle-Owl {Bubo maculosns) is not 

 uncommon. It generally chooses some corner amongst 

 rocks to roost in during the day. Two or three eggs form 

 a clutch and are laid in October on the bare ground amongst 

 the rocks ; they measure about 52 x 44 mm. 



The Cape Barn-Owl (Stri.v flammea macnlata) was found 

 in the old Haminerkops (Scopus umbrettd) nest already men- 

 tioned. It breeds in April as a rule, laying its eggs at odd 

 times, so that very often the last egg is laid after the first 

 has hatched. 



The White-faced Owl (Asio levcotis erlangeri) is not very 

 common, or at any rate is not often seen. I took the eggs 

 (three) of this bird between Johannesburg and Pretoria on 

 28th October, 1907 ; they are white and measure 39-39-4 x 

 32-32*5 mm., and were in different stages of incubation. 

 The nest was the flattened top of an old Sparrow's nest 

 situated in a large thorn-tree. 



The Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glavcidmm perJatum) is a very 

 common species and not strictly nocturnal, though it seems 

 to call only at night. I took a clutch of three fresh eggs of 

 this species on the Magaliesberg on 16th October, 1904, 

 capturing the sitting bird, which lived for five years in 

 captivity in the Zoological Gardens. The nest was that 

 of a Barbet — probably of Tracliyplionus cafer. The eggs 

 measure 30-31'3 x 24-25 mm. 



The Marsh-Owl (Asio nisiiella) occurs in the marshy 

 valleys. It nests during the cooler months of the year, 

 laying two or three eggs in a dense patch of grass. The 

 eggs measure 39*8-40*G x 34-35 mm. 



2* 



