MOUSEBIRDS 



87 



MOUSEBIRDS 



The Mousebirds, or Colies (Family Coliidce), are as bad 

 at fruit-thieving as the Bulbuls, if not more so, and devour 

 large quantities of apricots, plums, peaches, &c. They are 



Fig. 45. — Speckled Mousebird. 



gregarious in habits, going about in flocks, and are chiefly 

 remarkable for the hair-like nature of their breast feathers, 

 from which they derive their Dutch name of " Muisvogel-" 

 (Mousebird). They have crested heads and long tails. All 

 three species are of much the same size. 



South Africa possesses three species and a sub-species. 

 The Speckled Mousebird {Colius striatus) is of an ashy-grey 



