50 



CHAPTER IIT. 

 THE FARMER'S FOES. 



STARLINGS. 



FIRST in order of destructiveness comes the Spreeuw, or 

 Pied Starling (Spreo bicolor), which is very common 

 throughout South Africa, excepting the Natal littoral and 

 German South-west territory. 



It feeds chiefly on insects, but during the fruit season 

 creates enormous havoc amongst the fruit crops, notably 

 figs. They are so destructive in some districts that 

 unless strong measures are taken, hardly a ripe fig 

 remains to be gathered. With a bird of this description 

 it is exceedingly difficult to know where to place it. It 

 has no beauty in its brown plumage (which has, however, 

 bronzy reflections in the sun) and white abdomen, and 

 probably does quite as much good in destroying insect 

 pests as it does harm by devouring figs and other fruit. 

 However, to the fruit farmer, and the householder who 

 possesses a few fruit trees, it is an undoubted nuisance, 

 so we perforce include it in this chapter. 



The Pied Starling nests in holes and dongas, prospect- 

 ing pits, and walls, or under stones, and lays from four 

 to six greenish-blue eggs during the months of August to 

 October. Dr. Stark says the eggs are occasionally marked 

 with reddish brown. 



