Birds of Gambia. 341 



Range. Europe; West Siberia. Africa in winter. (H.L.) 



I believe this species has been shot in the Gambia, but 

 1 have never seen it. 



Elanus oaeruleus. BLACK-SHOULDEEED KITE. 



Range. Mediterranean. Africa. South Asia. (H.L.) 



Not uncommon in the Gambia. General colour, a clear grey- 

 lighter on the head, a distinct black patch on the shoulder; quills 

 grey tipped with black ; tail feathers grey tipped with white, the 

 white increasing from within outwards till the outer feathers are 

 nearl;/ wholly white. Under surface white to very pale gt'ey. Iris 

 red, cere yellow ochre, beak black, legs yellow. Length 12 inches. 



Ncmderus riocouri. AFKICAN SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 



Range. Nortli-east and West Africa, Senegambia to Hausa- 

 land. (H.L.) 



A g'rey and white bird with very deeply forked tail, which 

 looks when on the wing exactly like a large gu'ey slow:- flying 

 Swallow. Its general colour above is grey, below white; on the 

 external margin of the under wing-coverts is a broad black patch, 

 which is invisible when the wing is closed. Iris crimson; cere 

 grey; beak black; legs pale yellow. Length 14^ inches, of which 

 the tail forms half. I have only seen these bii'ds once or twice 

 and then they have been flying slowly overhead in small flocks, 

 returning at sunset from the marshes in which they have been 

 feeding, probably mainly on insects and the like, during the day. 



Milvus aegyptius. ARABIAN KITE. 



Range. South-east Europe. Africa and Madagascar in win- 

 ter. {H.L.) 



M. korschun. BLACK KITE. 



Range. Central and South Europe; Central Asia; Africa in 

 winter. (H.L.) 



Kites are everywhere in the Gambia, year in and year out, 

 playing tlieir useful part as scavengers and refuse eaters, but oc- 

 casionally adding a young chicken or lizard to their bill of fare. 

 The larger insects, such as locusts, also form a large part of their 

 food, and at bush-fires the Kites vie with the Rollers and other in- 

 sectivorous birds in the pursuit of the multitudes of creeping things 

 disturbed by the flames. When perched on a tree or when feeding 

 on tli3 ground they look ugly unsavoury birds, in fact typical 

 carrion -eaters, but when on the wing they are all grace and speed 

 as they wheel or float in the air — true examples of ideal and easy 

 flight. The two species named probably both occur in the Gambia; 

 the main difference between them is that ;the beak is yellow in 

 aegyptius, black in Icorscliun. 



Gypohierax angalensis. VULTUEINE SEA-EAGLE. 



Range. Tropical Africa. (H.L). 



This black and white Eagle owing to its bare face, shape 

 and colouration has a most Vulture-like look, but in courage and 

 general demeanour can vie with many Eagles. They frequent the 



