250 Birds of Gamhia. 



had practically no luck with Budgerigars this year, however, 

 there are now half a dozen or more just out of the nest. 



The Lovebirds have w^de no attempt to nest, and the 

 sni>posed ]iair of wliite Java S|i,iir()ws proved to be two hens 

 and though since by exchange I have procured a true pair, 

 there has been no nesting result up to the present. 



The Weavers are a grand sight lieing all in nuptial 

 plumage. 



One of my happiest recolleotioiis in this aviary was the 

 breeding of foui' (Touldiaii Finclies some four years ago, but 

 my stock died out, and though I recently tried to procure 

 more for the new avinrv T was not snccessful but hope yet 

 to add a pair of this lieautiful species to the new aviary. 



Birds of Gambia. 



By E. HoPKiNsoN, D.S.O., M.A., M.B. 



C'li/ili/nii'd //■niii jKii/c 140. 



The name BROWN-NECKED PARROT {Foiocephahni 

 fiir-i icnlliH), is that by which it is known at the Zoo, but 

 (lur birds dilTer in many respects from the descrip'tions of that 

 species wliich l liave I'ead, particularly in the differences between 

 the young- and old. When I first saw these birds here I thought 

 tliat they were the same as P. levaillanbi, a few of wliich I saw 

 ill South Afi'ica, but as soon as I got a specimen in my hands 

 I ,sav.' th;it our bird was (piite dill'erent to the South African one; 

 for on ' thing oui- bird's beak is half as big again, I should think, 

 as that of Levaillant's Parrot. During the seven years T have 

 been in the Gamlna I have had a good number of these birds 

 through my hands, both alive and dead, and have often watched 

 the change from the red -headed stage of the youngster to that of 

 the grey-headed red-winged and thighed adult, and am quite sure 

 that all my red-headed birds were young ones, as practically all 

 were brought me from the nest before they could fly. 



The following notes taken from three birds I had alive in .April, 

 1906, gives the differences in their plumage at the different ages. 



No. 1. A very old bird, which had been slightly winged 

 by a shot the previous January and which eventually; wont to 

 the Zoo. Whole head (including forehead), neck, and upi)er chest 

 ha-own-grey, each feather with a darker centre; a reddish tinge 

 on chin. Back dusky green; scapulars, ffights, and tail dull black 

 with a greenish tinge; rump;, upper tail coverts, l>reast, abdomen, 

 thighs, and under tail-coverts grass green, brightest on the rump; 

 under wing-coyerts dark green merging into grey. Edge of wing 



