26 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



taken full clutches of eggs in November, December and 

 even in February. 



It nests in holes in trees, or, more frequently, in ant- 

 heaps, in holes excavated by an ant-bear in search of its 

 food. 



The eggs are very pale blue when first laid, but become 

 a dirty pale brownish-colour when addled ; from three to 

 five are laid. 



The Wood Hoopoes (Irrisoridce) are represented in 

 South Africa by two well-marked species, the first of 

 which is the Red-billed Wood Hoopoe or Kakelaar 

 (Chatterer), as the Boers call it (Irrisor viridis of science). 

 In Grahamstown it is often called the Monkey-bird, pro- 

 bably also on account of its chattering, noisy habits. 



It is easily recognised by its steel-green and dark-blue 

 plumage, strongly graduated tail with white spots on 

 the feathers (excepting the two centre), black belly and 

 red bill. 



It is found from Knysna in Cape Colony, eastwards 

 through Natal to Zululand, the Transvaal, Ehodesia, 

 Bechuanaland and German South-west Africa. 



It is essentially 'a forest-loving species; it may be 

 seen hunting for insects, in small parties of four to 

 twelve individuals. Their chattering propensities are 

 well known, and the noise a party of them create as they 

 take wing when disturbed, is nothing short of deafening. 



This bird nests in holes in trees (usually " comman- 

 deered " from some other bird), and lays three eggs of 

 a beautiful greenish- blue, minutely and sparsely speckled 

 with whitish pin-points. 



The Scimitar- bill (Ehinopomastus cyanomelas) is smaller 

 than the Kakelaar, glossy purple above and dull black 

 below, and has a slender, very curved black bill. 



