Birds of Gazaland, Southern Rhodesia. 299 
138. Buso Lactrus. Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl. 
As elsewhere, this Owl is said by the natives here to feed 
chiefly on Guinea-fowls, and it will also occasionally make a 
descent on a poultry-yard; my neighbour, Dr. Thompson, 
having had fowls taken by it for several nights in succession. 
The Kafir superstitions with regard to Owls in general 
reach their height in reference to the present species. They 
state that it will sometimes swoop down and strike on the 
back of the head a person travelling by night, and that on 
arriving at home he will find his wife, his children, or other 
near relatives dead or dying, or, failing that, that he will 
himself infallibly die within a short period. No one will 
attack one of these birds or fire at it with a bow, fearing 
disaster ; and even should one have been accidentally caught 
in a trap, they will cut it loose with a long knife or assegai, 
taking care not to touch it with their hands. Again, should 
an Owl take up its abode in a tree close to a kraal and hoot 
there night after night, the imhabitants will desert the spot. 
The witch-doctors are said to have no “ medicine” strong 
enough to ward off disaster from an Owl-struck person. 
139. Syrnium wooprorpI. Woodford’s Owl. 
The common Owl of Chirinda, where it may be heard any 
evening on entering the forest ; its usual call resembles the 
words “ Who-are-you?” the middle syllable being slurred 
and a long stress placed on the last, and is distinctly pleasing. 
The adult has an unusually human expression. A stomach 
examined contained a grasshopper, a longicorn and other 
beetles, and some fur, probably of a mouse; but it is quite 
likely that these Owls will also take roosting birds, as I have 
caught one with a noose set high in a tree and baited with 
a small bird. Two adults measured in the flesh 12°5 and 
13°5 inches respectively ; the cere and legs were of the same 
shade of Naples yellow; the iris was very dark brown. At 
the end of October a young bird, then a mere ball of white 
fluff, which had doubtless fallen from a nest in one of the 
forest-paths, was brought to me by a friend who had picked 
it up; it is still alive and flourishing. I feed it on locusts, 
