CHAPTER VI 



OKNAMENTS OF THE VELD 



CROWS 



The first member of the Family Corvidse we already dealt 

 with in the opening chapter. 



The Pied Crow {Corvus scapulatus) could also, with some 

 justice, have been included in the same chapter. It is 

 glossy black (with purplish and steely-blue reflections) 

 except the back of the head, sides of neck, upper back and 

 breast, which are white. Length, 18 inches. 



The Dutch vernacular name, viz. Bonte Kraai is a transla- 

 tion of the English. 



It inhabits practically the whole of Africa south of the 

 Sahara Desert ; in the sub-continent it is fairly generally 

 distributed, but is not found in the coastal portion of Natal. 



This crow eats almost anything from offal and carrion 

 to shellfish, insects, and animal parasites, such as ticks, &c. 



Its nest — ^usually a roughly-constructed saucer of sticks 

 lined with moss, wool and similar material — ^is either situated 

 on the ledge of a krantz or in a tree. Eggs from three to 

 six, of a bluish-green ground colour, streaked and spotted 

 with various shades of brown. 



The Black Crow {Corvus capensis) is of a general glossy 

 black colour. Length, 18 inches. 



