62 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



collaris), so called from his well-known butchering 

 habits. The old Cape Dutch likened the slaughter- 

 ing propensity of this fierce bird to an old-time 

 official of theirs, the Fiscal or Crown prosecutor, 

 by whom criminals were brought to justice. The 

 larder of this bird, and of its near congener, the coro- 

 netted shrike (which replaces it in Bechuanaland), is 

 quite a curiosity, including, as it does, beetles, locusts, 

 small snakes, mice, lizards, and other luxuries, all 

 neatly impaled on acacia thorns or aloe spikes. 



The common crow in South Africa is not black, but 

 black and white. There are two kinds, both very 

 familiar figures — one known to the colonists as the 

 bonte kraai (pied crow) (Gorviis scapulakcs), and the 

 other called the ringhals kraai (riog-neck crow) 

 {Corvus albicoUis), a big, bold fellow, constantly seen 

 about the colonial roads and outspans. The only 

 black crow (Corvus ca^ensis), the korenland kraai 

 (cornland crow), is far less known, except near culti- 

 vated land, where he may be seen following the plough 

 for dainties after the manner of his English congener. 



The glossy starlings are very numerous and very 

 striking denizens of South Africa. The effect of 

 their wonderful metallic sheen and the variety of 

 colouring of the male birds' plumage, flashing under 

 the strong sunlight, is most beautiful. Blue, violet, 

 purple, puce, green, bronze, brown, black, and white 

 are all blended and represented. Verreaux's glossy 



