. The birds of South Africa. Birds -- South Africa. ZYGODACTYLI 123 close at hand, it sounds as if it was some distance off. It is usually heard during the midday hours. The Narina lives chiefly on insects though it is said to eat fruit also ; the Woodwards state that they have seen these birds pursue and catch insects on the wing, and have found beetles and caterpillars in their stomachs. Levaillant states that they nest in a hole in a tree, where they lay four rounded eggs, white with a rosy tinge, as owing to the fragile and delicate nature of the shell the yolk shows through; incubation la
. The birds of South Africa. Birds -- South Africa. ZYGODACTYLI 123 close at hand, it sounds as if it was some distance off. It is usually heard during the midday hours. The Narina lives chiefly on insects though it is said to eat fruit also ; the Woodwards state that they have seen these birds pursue and catch insects on the wing, and have found beetles and caterpillars in their stomachs. Levaillant states that they nest in a hole in a tree, where they lay four rounded eggs, white with a rosy tinge, as owing to the fragile and delicate nature of the shell the yolk shows through; incubation lasts twenty days, and the young are batched in a very advanced condition and are able to follow their parents at once. The Woodwards are the only modern observers who appear to have investigated the nesting habits of the Narina; they confirm Levaillant but do not mention the precocious nature of the newly- hatched young. The skin of this bird is very thin and delicate and the feathers are very loosely attached to it, so that it is a most difficult bird to preserve, moreover if exposed to light the bright red colour of the under parts quickly fades. Mr. Jules Verreaux states that the red colouring matter like that of the Touracos, is easily washed out by water, and that during wet weather it fades to a pale pink; but that the rich red colour soon reappears when the plumage of the bird again dries. 2Dd 3rd. Isfc 4 th Fig. 40.—Left foot of Campothera smithi. Toes numbered, x J-. Suborder V. ZYGODACTYLI. Second and third toes anteriorly, first and fourth posteriorly directed ; flexor perforans digitorum leading only to the third Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Stark, Arthur Cowell, d. 1899; Sclater, William Lutley, 1863-1944. London, R. H. Porter
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondonrhporter
