Jan., 1908 THE LOCUST-DESTROYING BIRDS OF THE TRANSVAAL 13 



black wattles from which the bird takes its name. There is also another wattle on 

 the top of the head and one on the forehead close to the upper mandible. 



Their presence always indicates locusts and if the supply is abundant the 

 starlings will locate, build, and hatch their young. Unfortunately, however, it not 

 infrequently happens that the supply of locusts runs short ere the nestlings are 

 fledged, with the result that numbers die from lack of food. 



The South African Kestrel ( Tinnunciilus ?-tipicolus) is a persistent enemy and 

 will follow a swarm of locusts for miles, strangely avoiding the main body of the 

 insects, seizing only the stragglers or tail-enders. These hawks of course catch the 

 insect with their claws and dine in mid air while still upon the wing. It is re- 

 ported by some of the earlier ornithologists that these hawks came from northern 

 Africa, following the flights of locusts as they move southward, and being satisfied, 

 with their new quarters, took up their residence and became local varieties. 



The Guinea Fowl {Nwnida coi'onata) , so familiar in the bushes on the river 

 banks, has not infrequently added a pleasant side dish to our scoff when on 

 the up-country trek, we outpanned for the night, and, outstretched upon the 

 grass, watched with impatient eyes our Kaffir boys prepare the evening meal. 

 These birds, along with the legendary Otis ko?'i, the Paauw of the Boers, the 

 Crested Bustard of the ornithologist, a big bird of 30 or 40 pounds weight, but 

 capable of outrunning, like our own famous Geococcyx californianus, a fleet horse; 

 \h&Q\x'dS\. (yCotiirnix capensis); the cape turtle dove ( 7z/;'/'«r capicola); the Ha- 

 dadah Ibis, and many others must all be credited as aids to the agriculturist, so per- 

 sistent are they in the destruction of locusts. 



It would be an oversight even in this imperfect capitulation to omit reference 

 to some of the "Tick Birds" — selecting by courtesy the graceful and not uncom- 

 mon White Egret or Tick Bird {Btibiilcus lucidus) , a foe to the Voetganger, but not 

 very effective inasmuch as they are dainty feeders, taking the precaution to "masti- 

 cate" their prey before they swallow it, a slow process with the locusts in active 

 flight. 



They are a very showy bird and when seen in the early dawn seem almost 

 spirit-like as they glide past on their way to the feeding grounds. The red-billed 

 Oxpecker, a Tick Bird, but perchance only by renown, an emergency enemy of the 

 locust, is such an interesting species that it is certainly worthy of mention. It 

 is a bird somewhat larger than an English sparrow, multi-colored in plumage, with 

 a very pronounced undershading of rich gamboge tint. It is amusing to watch it 

 as it hunts for its food, the ticks upon oxen, horses and mules. Scarcely have 

 you outspanned than the red-bill is alight upon the animals' backs; off it goes on 

 its tour of inspection, clambering over, around, underneath; examining all flexures 

 of the joints, around the eyes, the insertion of the tail, and such areas where the 

 tender skin proves a favorite locality for the tick. Oftentimes have I been amused 

 to see the little benefactor, with its head turned sidewise, peering into the anal 

 socket, while the grateful animal lifts up the tail, only too glad to be freed from 

 the dozen or more ticks which are invariably to be found in that region. 



The bird is very active, ever on the qui vive, and it is difficult to obtain a 

 specimen, for if disturbed it darts from one animal to another with great rapidity, 

 and one hesitates to shoot an ox simply to obtain a specimen of ' Biiphaga ery- 

 thi'07'hyncha. 



One day just when the setting sun was gilding the long stretches of vlei, across 

 which we were driving, a large bird sprang out of the grass and ran rapidly ahead 

 of us. •Altho I had never seen one before, the pen behind its ear, its peculiar 

 gait with tucked up hinder extremities, as if to keep it out of the wet, told me it 



