4470 Tue ZooLocist—JunE, 1875. 
here: the largest (Monitor Niloticus) haunts most of the rivers and 
streams, feeding principally upon a small species of crab, which is 
very abundant. This is a fine large reptile, usually attaining the 
length of from four to five feet, and is covered with a thick scaly 
skin: the huge jaws, lined with sharp-pointed teeth, and the long 
forked tongue give the beast quite a formidable appearance, yet it 
is perfectly harmless, and scuttles off with its peculiar waddling 
gait at the least alarm. If on coming across one of these reptiles 
you remain quite still, it will often come close up to you, not 
minding your presence any more than if you were a stone or stump 
of a tree, but should you happen to stir ever so slightly it makes 
the best of its way to the nearest water. Its movements are awkward 
when on land, so that it can be easily overtaken and killed, but in 
the water it seems quite at home, swimming and diving with great 
expertness and zest. 
Our tree monitor is, we believe, the same as that mentioned by 
Dr. Smith as the Narana albogularis. It does not seem to be 
amphibious, confining itself to the bush, and living chiefly in the 
trees, which it climbs with surprising agility. It feeds on tree 
frogs, crickets and other insects, occasionally varying its diet with 
vegetable food. This animal cannot be said to be entirely in- 
offensive, as it sometimes pays a visit to the fowl-house, where it 
devours both the poultry and their eggs. 
We once tried the experiment of keeping Muscovy ducks on the 
Ifafa, but in a few weeks they were all destroyed by the river 
monitors. In appearance both species closely resemble one another, 
but the tree monitors are rather smaller than the other kind. It is 
wonderful how tenacious of life they are: one having taken refuge 
in a tree, four bullets from a Colt’s revolver and a heavy charge of 
lupers were lodged in its body before it fell, and even then, being 
attacked by two dogs, it showed fight and lived for several hours 
afterwards. Both the above reptiles lay a number of parchment- 
like eggs, which they deposit in a hole in the ground; they are said 
to hatch by the warmth of their bodies, like the larger snakes. 
During the day these creatures make no noise, but at night we 
often hear their loud flute-like whistle, which has a monotonous 
and rather melancholy sound. 
Owls.—We have already mentioned the eagle owl (Budo 
capensis) as being found in Natal; we will now notice three other 
species. 
