in Zululand, with Notes on its Birds. 415 



but has a peculiar whistle, which it utters in the evening and 

 early morning. It seems to confine itself to the mimosa- 

 thorns, lives on insects, and does not much object to the 

 sunshine. 



The Umfolosi seems to be the southern limit of the small 

 green Parrot {Popocephalus fuscicapillus) . Kingfishers and 

 Crab-eaters were plentiful : here also we often heard the 

 pleasant shrill whirring notes of Halcyon cyanoleuca, and 

 admired its lovely blue plumage. The pretty little Natal 

 Crab-eater (Ispidina natalensis) was plentiful. A native 

 brought us one of these birds which he had caught on its 

 nest made in the side of an antbear^s hole. It was a male 

 bird in perfect plumage, and probably both sexes take part 

 in the work of nidification. The female Kingfisher, unlike 

 other birds, remains fat during the period of incubation. 

 Halcyon fuscicapilla is common everywhere. It is very fond 

 of crabs. We once kept a pair of these birds for several 

 months in a large cage, and they throve well on finely- cut meat. 

 They are quite hardy, and easy to keep if supplied with plenty 

 of water for bathing. The egg is perfectly round, an inch in 

 diameter, and looks as if it had been cut out of smooth 

 white marble. We found its hole in the bank of the river ; 

 it was well lined with bones and remains of insects. It 

 is amusing to watch these birds as they sit on a branch, 

 nodding their heads whilst they give utterance to their few 

 loud shrill notes. The Blue Kingfisher {Alcedo semitorquata) 

 flies rapidly up and down most of the rivers within a foot or 

 two of the water. It lives entirely on fishes, and never quits 

 the bed of the stream. We have watched with pleasure the 

 old birds catching fishes for their young ones, which were 

 perched upon a rock screaming lustily for food. 



The Great Kingfisher {Ceryle maxima) is the largest of 

 its tribe, being 15 inches in length. It reminded us of the 

 Belted Kingfisher of America (C. alcyon), which it much 

 resembles. It is by far the most noisy of all the Kingfishers, 

 and, when flying, keeps up an incessant loud chattering 

 scream. With its large strong bill it swallows fishes of a 

 considerable size. The ''Hammer Kop " {Scopus umbretta) 



