162 The Bird 
grasshoppers which occasionally devastate that region. 
In the antipodes we find a gull with crepuscular habits, 
whose entire food consists of night-flying moths. 
Birds in captivity may sometimes be induced to eat 
food which they would never touch when in a state of 
freedom, but there are three species of birds the variety 
of whose natural diet will challenge that of any living 
creature. The first is a Burrowing Owl. This bird will 
not disdain vegetable food, and in its underground dining- 
chambers have been found remains of ducklings, spar- 
rows, mice, and many other small birds and rodents; 
snakes and frogs, besides spiders, beetles, and apparently 
all small forms of life which these little birds are able to 
catch and kill. But leaving even the Burrowing Owl 
far behind in this respect is the Chimango Carrion-hawk 
of southern South America. Hudson tells us that noth- 
ing comes amiss to these birds. The vulture habit is per- 
haps strongest, and all offal and decaying meat is pounced 
upon with eagerness. All wounded and sickly creatures 
are closely watched until they die, or, if the opportunity 
offers, are despatched at once. When a large extent of 
grass is burned, bountiful repasts are ready for these 
birds in the shape of roasted snakes and small mammals. 
Eggs and young birds are especial dainties for the Chi- 
mango, and young sheep are often attacked, bringing to 
mind the Kea Parrot. The bird is, at times, a vegetable- 
feeder, and in fact it would be hard to find any organic 
object near its home, the edibility of which it has not 
tested. 
The Red-winged Starlings of South Africa during 
