44 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



The Spotted Eagle Owl is another large owl, though 

 less in size than the last. It is very much mottled with 

 dark brown, yellow, and white, and has prominent ear 

 tufts. It is spread through most of Africa south of the 

 Equator. It preys on small mammals such as rats and 

 mice reptiles, and insects. I have never known this 

 species to attack domestic poultry. 



Many African tribes are intensely superstitious about 

 owls, and the birds calling near the villages, or perching 

 on the huts at night, are believed to presage disaster. 

 Crossed sticks are occasionally placed on the apex of a 

 hut to ward off the threatened evil. 



CHAPTER VII 



MISCELLANEOUS BIRDS I 



THE present work cannot aspire to give any description 

 or account of the habits of any but a very few of the 

 species which make up the swarming bird life of south 

 Africa. Some idea of their numbers may be formed by 

 a glance at the appendix. I propose therefore to touch 

 on a few only of the larger, brighter plumaged, or other- 

 wise more noticeable types, recommending for any real 

 study of the subject, one or other of the many volumes 

 specially directed to it. 



In addition to the various sea birds, the game birds, 

 and the birds of prey, there are more than half a 

 dozen other orders of birds existing. Much the largest 

 of these contains the " perching birds " ; in fact, this 

 order comprises about half the existing number of species, 

 including of course nearly all the small types with which 

 we are familiar. 



Nearly all, or at least a great majority, of the perching 



