THE AFEICAN BEEF-EATEE. 



431 



In one solitary instance the Mino Bird has been known to visit England, having been 

 seen on the Norfolk coast. In all probability the bird had escaped either from an aviary, 

 or from some homeward-bonnd ship. 



The Crowned Grakle is one of the handsomest of the genns to whiclr it belongs, and 

 on account of the peculiar colouring from which it derives its name is a very conspicuous 

 bird. 



It inhabits the parts of the 

 jungle where the vegetation is 

 thickest, and interspersed with tall 

 trees, on whose topmost branches 

 the Crowned Grakle loves to settle 

 while engaged in its search after 

 berries, fruits, and the various 

 substances on which it feeds. It 

 is not a very timid bird, and will 

 frequently haunt human habita- 

 tions, entering the gardens where- 

 ever tall trees have l)cen left 

 standing, and whistling cheerily 

 as it flies from one tree or bough 

 to another. When frightened it 

 signifies its alarm by a harsh, 

 rough screech, but its ordinary 

 notes are full and melodious. 



The top of the head and part 

 of the nape, together with the 

 chin and a mark on the centre of 

 several of the primary feathers of 

 the wings, are bright " king's "' 

 yellow. Piound the eye is a large, 

 comma-shaped patch of bare pink 

 skin, the point of the comma 

 being directed towards the ear. 

 The general colour of the body, 

 as well as the short and square- 

 tipped tail, which looks as if it 

 had been snipped off abruptly b)^ 

 a pair of shears, is a very deep 

 green, " shot " with blue in cer- 

 tain lights, and sooty black in 

 others. 



Another curious group of this 

 large family is known by the 

 name of BuphaginjB, i.e. Beef- 

 eaters or Ox-peckers ; a title 

 which they have earned by their 



habits. They may be easily known by their remarkably shaped bill, which is wonder- 

 fully adapted for the peculiar duties which it has to perform. One of the most common 

 species of this group is the African Beef-eater, a bird which is found in great numbers 

 both in Southern und Western Africa. 



It generally assembles in flocks, and haunts the spots where cattle are kept, alighting 

 upon their backs and setting vigorously to work in digging from beneath their skins the 

 larva3 of the bot-flies which burrow beneath the hide, and may often be seen on the backs 

 of our English cattle, by means of the little hillock of skin which they raiee. To extract 



CROWNED GR.\KLE.— Grdcj(/a coronata. 



