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CHAPTER VI. 

 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD. 



CROWS. 



THE first member of the Family Corvida we already 

 dealt with in the opening chapter. 



The Pied Crow (Corvus scapulatus) could also, with 

 some justice, have been included in the same chapter. 

 It is glossy black (with purplish and steely-blue reflec- 

 tions) except the back of the head, sides of neck, upper 

 back and breast, which are white. 



The Dutch vernacular name, viz., Bonte Kraai, is a 

 translation of the English. 



It inhabits practically the whole of Africa south of 

 the Sahara Desert ; in the sub-continent it is fairly 

 generally distributed, but is not found in the coastal 

 portion of Natal. 



This crow eats almost anything, from offal and carrion 

 to shellfish, insects, and animal parasites, such as ticks, &c. 



Its nest usually a roughly-constructed saucer of sticks 

 lined with moss, wool and similar material is either 

 situated on the ledge of a krantz or in a tree. Eggs 

 from three to six, of a bluish-green ground colour, 

 streaked and spotted with various shades of brown. 



The Black Crow (Corvus capensis) is of a general 

 glossy black colour. 



