48 FBIENDS OP THE AGEICULTURIST 



easily recognised from the preceding species by its con- 

 siderably larger size, greyish-white forehead, and carmine-red 

 throat. Length, 9 inches. 



This bird is exceedingly common along the Crocodile 

 River north of the " Poort " (gate), in the Magaliesberg 

 Range (District Pretoria). 



During our visit in December, 1905, we had evidently 

 pitched our camp close to a clump of trees which had been 

 their regular roosting-place, and the Bee-eaters were a distinct 

 nuisance, circling round in the gathering gloom of eventide, 

 uttering their harsh plaiative cries, which in their monotonous 

 insistence are apt to get on one's nerves. 



We observed them sitting on the trees which lined the 

 banks of the river, and hawking insects on the wing over the 

 water, after the manner of swallows. 



WOODPECKERS 



The Woodpeckers (Picidce), being essentially insect- 

 feeders, are true friends of the farmer, and as such we are 

 glad to see they are protected in the Eastern Province of 

 the Cape. 



They lay white eggs in holes in trees bored by themselves, 

 excepting a solitary instance, the Ground Woodpecker (or, 

 more strictly speaking, " Ground Pecker ") which excavates 

 a hole in the bank of a river, donga or cutting. We give 

 an illustration of one clinging to the entrance of its sub- 

 terranean abode. This photo was taken in the vicinity of 

 Carlisle Bridge, Fish River, in the District of Albany. The 

 nest hole contained three young birds about two weeks old. 



In the neighbourhood of Grahamstown the bird is plentiful 

 on a rocky hillside just outside the precincts of the town off 

 the road to Featherstone Valley, where its weird whistling 

 screech can be heard in the evenings. 



