262 



BUBONID^ 



SCOTOPELIA 



ago by the Livingstone expedition and more recently at Zumbo by 

 Alexander. 



South of the Zambesi it is very rare ; there is a specimen 

 obtained on the Umlass river near Durban by Gordge now in the 

 Shelley collection ; Mr. Quekett tells me he has heard of an 

 example having been recently shot at Umzinto in the Alexandria 

 district of Natal ; finally Mr. Sydney Turner of Port St. John's 

 in Pondoland shot a Pel's Fishing Owl on the St. John's river 

 some years ago, thus bringing the species within the limits of the 

 Colony. 



FIG. 88. Scotopelia peli. x 



Habits. The Fishing Owl is usually seen in pairs, each pair 

 occupying a separate district, usually in the neighbourhood of a 

 river ; during the day they take refuge in the thick bush found 

 along the banks, but at night they are flying about hunting for 

 their prey, which consists of fishes and probably of small mammals 

 as well. Waller states moreover that they capture and devour 

 Guinea fowls while roosting. Their voice is a deep humming note 

 repeated alternately by male and female and has a very weird 

 sound in the still dark night. 



Ct>-. C.'~^ 



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