34« 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



the second nearly equal in length to the third ; the tail being long, broad, and 

 wedge-shaped ; while the feet are strong, and furnished with sharp-curved claws, 

 by means of which the birds retain their hold on the slippery skin of buffaloes. 

 One species of ox-pecker inhabits North-Eastern Africa, Senegambia, and the 

 Transvaal ; while the South African ox-pecker (Buphaga afrieana) is found in 

 Natal, and the red-billed species (B. erythrorhyncha) in most parts of Central Africa. 



RED-BILLED OX-PECKER (^ liat. size). 



These birds fly in small parties of six or eight, and have a somewhat laboured 

 flight ; they may be observed climbing over the oxen in a team, much as a wood- 

 pecker climbs a tree ; and the cattle for the most part enjoy the operation of being- 

 freed from the ticks and other pests with which they are infested. On the first 

 arrival of a flock of these birds, the cattle are, however, apt to be alarmed, and start 



