July, 1905.; 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



177 



Some South African Birds. — To enumerate even a 

 tithe of the birds that deserve mention here would be 

 impossible, but there are a few types, some of which 

 call for comment. 



It is worth travellinsj far to see, for example, such 

 birds as the penguin and the ostrich in a wild state. 

 Both flightless types, we have in the one a good illus- 

 tration of degeneration, and in the other of the substitu- 

 tion of organs, the wings playing the part of the feet 

 when swimming. 



Though the ostrich is no longer to be found in a wild 

 state in Cape Colony, it will probably be met with by 

 those members of the Association who propose to make 

 their way northwards into Rhodesia. Occasionally 

 travelling in groups of from thirty to fifty, and then 

 generally associating with zebras or some of the larger 

 antelopes, this bird more commonly lives in companies 

 of not more than four or five, that is to say, the males 

 appear to live apart, accompanied by their mates. 



The actual facts as to the breeding habits of the 

 ostrich do not seem to have been definitely settled. But 

 it would appear, according to Professor Newton, that 

 the females lay their eggs in one nest — a shallow pit 

 scraped out by the feet, the earth so displaced being 

 used to form a wall around the eggs. As soon as ten 

 or twelve eggs have been laid brooding commences. 

 The cock performs this duty by night, his black plumage 

 serving as an admirable protective dress at the 

 time : the females seem to take up this duty in 

 turns by day. Being soberly clad they harmonise with 

 the sandy plains under the glare of the sun. About 

 thirty eggs appear to be laid in the nest, and around it 

 as many more are scattered, which are commonly 

 believed to be used as food by the young. Brood- 

 ing is believed to be resorted to, by day at least, 

 not so much for the purposes of incubation as to pro- 

 tect the eggs from prowling jackals. It is open to 

 question, however, whether this interpretation is cor- 

 rect, for it is quite possible that by day protection from 

 the sun is absolutely necessary. 



Those privileged to visit an ostrich farm may be likely 

 enough tO' see an old cock bird " roll." This peculiar 

 form of display is adopted preparatory to giving battle 

 to a rival when courting. Suddenly bumping down on 

 his " knees," he will, says Mr. Cronwright Schreiner, 

 ' ' open his wings . . . and then swing them alter- 

 nately backwards and forwards . . . as if on a 

 pivot. . . . The neck is lowered until the head is 

 on a level with the back, and the head and neck swing 

 from side to side with the wings, the back of the head 

 striking with a loud click against the ribs, first on one 

 side then on the other. The click is produced by the skin 

 of the neck, which then bulges loosely out just under 

 the beak and for some distance downwards, and while 

 " rolling " every feather over the whole body is on end, 

 and the plumes are open like a large fan. At such a 

 time the bird sees very imperfectly, if at all." 



Tlie chances of meeting with the secretary bird (Ser- 

 ^ctitariiis secrclarius) in Cape Colony are by no means 

 so certain as before the war. It is one of the most 

 peculiar of the birds of prey, and one of the most primi- 

 tive; albeit, in many respects, highly specialised. 

 It is remarkable for the length of its legs and the 

 tuft of long feathers resembling quill pens, which 

 grows out from the sides of the head — hence the 

 name " secretary bird." It feeds largely on 



venomous snakes, and on this account is supposed 

 to be strictly protected. The prey is killed by means 

 of blows from the wings, followed by vigorous pound- 

 mg with the powerful feet. There seems, unfortunately, 

 to be a tendency to relax the protection hitherto 

 accorded these birds on the plea that they also eat 

 animals coming under the head of " game." The 

 secretary bird builds a huge nest of sticks, placed 

 on the tops of low bushes. In the interstices of the nests 

 colonies of sparrows breed, quite unmolested by their 

 powerful overlords. In Cape Colony the deserted nests 

 of the secretary birds are now being appropriated by 

 the Stanley crane. The young remain helpless in the 

 nest for a period as long as six months, and for a con- 

 siderable time after leaving this they arc in danger of 

 snapping their long legs, which appear to be very 

 brittle, the body, as large as that of an eagle, being 

 heavy. 



Of the other birds of prey we have no space to speak. 

 Many will see eagles and vultures for the first time 

 during the visit. 



Tlie Hammer-head, a peculiar and aberrant stork of 

 small size and sombre colour, is one of the curiosities of 

 Cape Colony. .Among the Dutch element it is known 

 as the Hammer-kop. This bird, though scarcely larger 

 than a raven, builds an enormous nest, which may be 

 as much as six feet in diameter, and placed either in the 

 fork of a tree or on a rocky ledge. It is made of sticks, 

 roots, grass and rushes, and it is remarkable for the 

 fact that it is roofed over and neatly lined with clay, 

 thereby differing from the nests of all other members of 

 this order. 



Hoopoes and Hornbills, if fortune be kind, may, 

 perhaps, be met with. Of the former the most likely to 

 be encountered is a species closely resembling that 

 which occasionally has the temerity to visit the 

 British Islands. Tlie Cape species in question is 

 U. Africana. Flocks of the beautiful Wood-hoopoe 

 {Rkiuopomastus) flitting from bush to bush, resplendent 

 in metallic purple but lacking the crest of its more 

 familiar ally Upupa, may also be looked for. Handsome 

 and useful as these birds are, they are remarkable for 

 their evil smell and the foul condition of their nests. 

 The former appears to be due to a secretion of the oil 

 gland of both old and young, and in this respect the 

 Hoopoes appear to be unique among birds. Is is said 

 that the South American Hoatzin possesses a similar 

 secretive power. 



Hornbills are less likely to be seen, and these will 

 only be representatives of the curious ground hornbill, 

 the " Brom-Vogel " of South Africa. This bird is 

 unique among the hornbills for the great length of its 

 legs, an adaptation to a more or less terrestrial life. The 

 Kafirs have a tradition that drought will cease if one of 

 these birds is sunk under water and drowned. 

 Nearly all the hornbills are remarkable for the noise 

 made during flight, which has been likened to that of a 

 steam engine. The " Brom-Vogel " is said to be 

 capable of uttering a note resembling a lion's roar, and 

 audible for a mile. 



The hornbills have unique nesting habits, the female 

 retiring to a hollow tree and being walled in by the 

 closing up of the entrance to the hole with dung, some 

 say by the male alone, others say by the efforts of both 

 birds, their own dung being used for this purpose. In 

 the Bornean hornbill, at any rate, this plaster is, how- 



