64 



FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



it common at Modderfontein, Transvaal. It nests on the 

 ground in swampy growth, and lays two to four white eggs. 

 Its food consists of lizards, mice, frogs and insects. 



The White-faced Owl {Asio leucotis) is of a mottled and 

 streaky grey appearance above. Facial disc white with a 

 strongly-marked black margin behind, which is clearly seen 

 in the three individuals of our photograph. Below much 



Fig. 31. — ^Young Cape Eagle Owl. 



like the back but of a more barred appearance, abdomen and 

 undertail coverts white narrowly barred with black. Length, 

 12 to 12| inches. It is found from the Orange Eiver north- 

 wards to Somaliland, but, within our limits at any rate, 

 seems nowhere very plentiful. We have seen it in the 

 Pretoria District and the Bushveld. It lives on small 

 rodents such as rats and mice, and insects such as locusts 

 and grasshoppers. 



