THE ZooLocist—JuneE, 1875. 4475 
kingfisher makes its nest in the burrow of a rat or other rodent, 
usually several feet deep, and in a hard stony bank it is no easy 
matter to get at. We have often watched with pleasure the old 
birds catching fish for their young ones, who were perched upon a 
rock screaming lustily for food, both the male and female being 
equally assiduous in supplying their wants. We have often 
caught the young, but have not been able to rear them: they 
seem extremely delicate and averse to confinement. 
4. The great kingfisher (Ceryle maaima) is the largest of the tribe 
found in South Africa, being fifteen inches and a half in length: 
all the upper parts, including the tail and wings, are bluish black, 
thickly spotted with white; head crested; breast and belly red, 
mottled with white and black; the bill and legs are black. This 
bird is by far the most noisy of all the kingfishers ; when flying it 
keeps up an incessant loud chattering scream. It is strong on 
the wing, and occasionally flies very high. With its large bill 
it manages to swallow fish of a considerable size. It is rather 
sociable in its disposition, and three or four may often be seen in 
company. It is said to be migratory in the Cape Colony, but 
remains all the year with us. As yet we know nothing of its 
nidification. 
Crows.—There are apparently only three varieties of the Corvidee 
found in the whole of South Africa, all of which are to be seen in 
Natal. 
The carrion or ring-necked crow (Corvus albicollis) frequents in 
large numbers the open country, but more particularly along the 
coast. It does not seem to be very gregarious, generally going in 
pairs, except when they are attracted by the scent of a dead ox or 
other carrion. This is a fine large bird, fully two feet long; 
unlike most of its tribe, it is not entirely black, having round its 
neck a broad snow-white ring, which gives it a very striking 
appearance. Although no doubt of great service as a scavenger, 
it sometimes proves mischievous among the farmer’s stock: we 
have seen lambs and even full-grown sheep torn and mutilated by 
these crows; they also commit sad depredations in the poultry 
yard, devouring great quantities of eggs. One of these birds may 
often be observed flying out of gun-range with an egg in its bill, 
which it can carry for a long distance without breaking the shell. 
The ring-necked crow makes its nest on a ledge of some lofty preci- 
pice, in which it lays two or three large eggs, two inches in length, 
