8 FEIENDS OF THE AGRICULTUKIST 



although the trees extended all round. All the nests 

 examined about twenty had two apertures, both on 

 the same side. On January 20, 1906, the birds suddenly 

 departed, leaving a few half-fledged young and some 

 eggs to perish and decay. 



None of the local farmers could remember having seen 

 these birds in the breeding season there before, although 

 during the winter months the Wattled Starling may be 

 found in small numbers throughout the Eastern Dis- 

 tricts, flying in company with the ordinary Spreeuw 

 (Spreo bicolor). 



The Wattled Starling is of a pale drab colour, with 

 the wing and tail feathers black. The head of the male 

 is adorned with a wattle or two on the crown, and a 

 lappet depending from the throat. They lay four or 

 five eggs of a bluish-white colour, sometimes, though 

 rarely, speckled with black. 



The next two species, which are also known by the 

 vernacular name of Small Locust Bird, are the two 

 Pratincoles (Glareola pratincola and G. melanoptera). 



They are brown in coloration, with a sandy-buff 

 throat, margined by a black ring, and white belly. 

 The axillaries and under wing-coverts are chestnut in 

 pratincola, whereas these regions in melanoptera are 

 black. 



The Black-winged species, the commoner and better- 

 known bird, is a migrant from Western Siberia and 

 South-west Bussia, where it breeds, arriving in South 

 Africa during September to November, and leaving again 

 about the end of March. 



These birds have very long wings, and consequently 

 excellent powers of flight. To see a flock at work on 

 a locust-swarm is one of the most interesting of sights. 



