438 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 



Two notices of changed feeding habits in birds found in South and East 

 Africa have recently been published. The first, by Prof. E. Ray Lankester, 

 appeared in « Nature ' (Aug. 16th), and refers to the common Rhinoceros- 

 bird (Buphaga erythrorhyncha), as observed by Capt. Hinde, of the British 

 East African Protectorate. This bird formerly fed on Ticks and other 

 parasites which infest game and domestic animals ; occasionally, if an 

 animal had a sore, the birds would probe the sore to such an extent that it 

 sometimes killed the animal. Since the cattle plague destroyed the im- 

 mense herds in Ukambani, and nearly all the sheep and goats were eaten 

 during the late famine, the birds, deprived of their food, have become 

 carnivorous, and now any domestic auimal not constantly watched is killed 

 by them. Perfectly healthy animals have their ears eaten down to the bone, 

 holes torn in their backs and in the femoral regions. The second report 

 relates to the South African Vulture, and is contributed to the ' Field ' of 

 Sept. 1st by H. L. Lempriere, of Natal. He writes : — " It is probable 

 that the disappearance of the enormous herds of game that used to roam at 

 will over the veld has caused a change of habit in this bird, and that the 

 scarcity of carrion has forced it to seek its food in a manner so unnatural 

 and abhorrent as to cause every man's hand to be turned against it. Be 

 that as it may, the fact remains that, as surely as the lambing season comes 

 round, so surely large flocks of Vultures appear, and, circling and wheeling 

 in the air above the ewes, seize the opportunity when the poor creatures are 

 in their most helpless condition to attack them, pick out their eyes, and 

 eventually kill both lamb and ewe with the most frightful torture conceiv- 

 able. Only the most unremitting care and attention during the lambing 

 season can prevent the most serious losses from this cause, and the rifle and 

 shot-gun, and even poison, are freely used to destroy these repulsive birds. 

 Nor are ewes the only victims. Foaling mares are killed in the same 

 frightful manner, and I have personally seen a flock of Vultures following 

 on the ground a heifer that was about to calve, awaiting their opportunity. 

 The plaintive lowing of the terrified beast attracted my attention, and I 

 was fortunately able, by the aid of a few well-placed bullets, to prevent 

 auother tragedy of the veld by dispersing the loathsome crew." 



The breeding of the Cuckoo in the London district is now a well- 

 established fact. Mr. C. J. Cornish, writing from Orford House, Chiswick 



