36 FEIENDS OF THE AGBICULTUEIST 



the banks of the Orange and Kraai Rivers. We also 

 found this bird not uncommon in the Albany kloofs and 

 along the Modder River in the Orange River Colony. 

 At Brandfort, Orange River Colony and the Modder- 

 fontein Dynamite Factory they are quite common 

 amongst the mimosa scrub, where their harsh cry 

 something like the blare of a toy trumpet may be heard 

 at almost any time of the day. 



They breed in holes excavated by themselves in soft 

 or decaying wood a favourite site being a moderately 

 thick mimosa bough. 



The Little Tinker-bird (Barbatula pusilla) is fairly 

 common around Grahamstown. Its yellow and black 

 plumage with scarlet forehead, in addition to its small 

 size length 5^ inches is enough to distinguish it from 

 the Barbets. Its range is restricted to the Eastern Cape 

 Colony, Natal and Zululand. 



The Tinker-bird also breeds in a hollow excavated in 

 a decaying bough. In the vicinity of Grahamstown, the 

 vertical bough of a euphorbia is a favourite locality. 



The Yellow- fronted Tinker-bird (B. extoni) replaces 

 the above species in the Transvaal ; we found it not 

 uncommon along the Crocodile River in the Bushveld 

 north of the Magaliesberg (Pretoria District). 



It differs from the Southern variety in the possession 

 of an orange-yellow forehead in place of the red one 

 characteristic of pusilla. 



The Tinker-birds derive their name from their loud 

 metallic call ; they feed chiefly on insects, varied by a 

 diet of berries and wild fruit. 



The Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus cafer) has a black 

 crest and a red rump. The yellow and black plumage 



