32 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



considerably larger size, greyish-white forehead, and 

 carmine-red throat. 



This bird is exceedingly common along the Crocodile 

 Eiver, north of the "Poort" (gate) in the Magaliesberg 

 Kange (District of Pretoria). 



During our visit in December, 1905, we had evidently 

 pitched our camp close to a clump of trees which had 

 been their regular roosting-place, and the Bee-eaters were 

 a distinct nuisance, circling round in the gathering gloom 

 of eventide, uttering their harsh plaintive cries which 

 in their monotonous insistence are apt to get on one's 

 nerves. 



We observed them sitting on the trees which lined the 

 banks of the river, and hawking insects on the wing over 

 the water, after the manner of swallows. 



WOODPECKERS. 



The Woodpeckers (Picidce), being essentially insect 

 feeders, are true friends of the farmer, and as such we are 

 glad to see they are protected in the Eastern Province 

 of the Cape. 



They lay white eggs in holes in trees bored by them- 

 selves, excepting a solitary instance, the Ground Wood- 

 pecker (or more strictly speaking "Ground Pecker"), 

 which excavates a hole in the bank of a river, donga or 

 cutting. We give an illustration of one clinging to the 

 entrance of its subterranean abode. This photo was 

 taken in the vicinity of Carlisle Bridge, Fish Eiver, in 

 the District of Albany. The nest-hole contained three 

 young birds about two weeks old. 



In the neighbourhood of Grahamstown the bird is 

 plentiful on a rocky hillside just outside the precincts of 

 the town off the road to Featherstone Valley, where its 

 weird whistling screech can be heard in the evenings. 



