BUCORAX CAFER. 123 
tle, and in settling in a new country, spots frequented by these birds 
are chosen by the wealthy people. Should the birds, however, by 
some chance fly over a cattle kraal, the kraal is moved to some other 
place. They are mostly found in groups of from 8 to 6, or 7, and build 
their nests in hollow trees, or in the hollow formed by three or four 
branches striking off, from the same spot; they roost in tall yellow 
wood trees, and commence calling about daylight. I never saw one 
eating carrion, as stated in your book, though I have frequently 
| seen them near the bones of dead cattle, picking up beetles and 
worms ; they will eat meat, mice, and small birds, and swallow them 
by throwing them suddenly up into the air, and letting them drop 
| down the throat in falling. I once had a tame one, and noticed this 
particularly. It is very weak on the wing, and when required 
by the ‘ doctor, the bird is caught by the men of a number of 
kraals turning out at the same time, and a particular bird is followed 
from one hill to another by those on the look out. After three or 
four flights it can be run down and caught by a good runner.” 
Mr. Ayres’ account of the species in Natal, though often referred 
to by other writers, is so excellent that no work treating of South 
African birds can omit it, and is therefore reproduced here inits 
entirety from the Ibis for 1861, (p. 133) :-{ In the stomach of the 
male were snakes, beetles, and other insects. These birds are 
gregarious and to be found here all the year round, but are not very 
plentiful, generally three or four, sometimes more, being found to- 
gether. They are very fond of hunting for their food on ground 
from which the grass has been burnt; with their strong bills they 
peck up the hard ground, and turn over lumps in search of insects, 
making the dust fly again ; haying found an insect or other food, they 
take it up, and giving their head a toss, the bill pointing upward, 
appear to let the food roll down their throat. They also kill large 
snakes|in the following manner, viz. :—On discovering a snake, three 
or four of the birds advance sideways towards it with their wings 
stretched out, and with their quills flap at and irritate the snake till 
he seizes them by the wing-feathers, when they immediately all close 
round and give him violent pecks with their long and sharp bills, 
quickly withdrawing again when the snake leaves his hold. This 
they repeat till the snake is dead. If the reptile advances on them 
they place both wings in front of them, completely covering their 
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