6 The South African Birds of Prey 



The Cape Eagle Owl (Bubo capeoisis) preys upon rats, 

 mice, and birds (Sclater). According to the Woodwards, 

 it also feeds upon an occasional spring-hare. According 

 to Ivy it is a bold bird, and will carry away a full-grown 

 fowl, or kill a hare. We can in consequence scarcely 

 call this bird a friend of the farmer, yet probably the 

 good it does very considerably outweighs the bad. This 

 species is dark brown above, mottled with greyish tawny 

 and white, and measures about 19^ inches in length. 



The Spotted Kagie-Owl {Bubo niaculosus) feeds upon 

 a large variety of animals : moles, rats, mice and shrews, 

 frogs and snakes, insects of various kinds, and maybe 

 occasionally a bird. The Woodwards attribute to it 

 depredatory habits, accusing it of attacking domesticated 

 pigeons. This is a fairly common bird in the neighbour- 

 hood of my home, and during many years of observing 

 and collecting I have not seen anything to warrant it 

 being classed other than a true friend of the farming 

 community. According to Andersson, it feeds upon rats 

 and large beetles. This bird inhabits the st6ne kopjes 

 and more open veld, and is a large brown bird mottled 

 with grey and huffish white, also possessing " ears." 



The Giant Eagle-Owl (Bubo verreauxi) is no absolute 

 friend of the farmer either, and should be bracketed with 

 the Cape Eagle-Owl. In vol. in., "Birds" ("Fauna of 

 South Africa"), Sclater gives its food as follows : guinea- 

 fowls and other birds, small mammals up to the size of 

 a hare, large insects, and poultry. According to Anders- 

 son it feeds on small quadrupeds, birds, lizards, and large 

 beetles. This bird is easily recognizable by its huge size 

 (being the largest owl in South Africa) and by its pale 

 horn-coloured bill. Length about '28 inches. 



The Cape Scops Owl {Scops capensis). — In this tiny 

 owl (length 7 inches) we have the exact opposite of the 

 preceding species, both as regards size and habits; -it" 

 feeds almost exclusively upon insects, and is in conse- 

 quence a firm ally of the agriculturist. 



