Ornithology of the Gold Coast. 63 



and pretty cry. Water-pools attract them much, in this 

 sparsely watered district. Their flight is powerful and grace- 

 ful beyond that of other Swallows. 



The natives hold them in some veneration^ and call them 

 " God's children/^ and appeared scandalized at my shooting 

 them, although they were satisfied when I explained the pur- 

 pose for which I was collecting their skins, and that I was 

 not impelled to do so from any wanton or inhumane motive. 



104. HiRUNDo GORDONi, Jard. : Sharpe, p. 46. 

 Tolerably common in the eastern or Accra-district of the 



Gold Coast, and now and then met with in the Fantee dis- 

 tricts. This is a bold handsome bird, fond of building about 

 houses, and much resembling H. rustica in its habits, especially 

 in its low swooping flights over level open ground. It is fre- 

 quently to be found basking in the open roads and rolling 

 itself in the dust, or as the natives express it, " washing itself.^' 



105. HiRUNDO PUELLA, Tcmm. : Sharpe p. 47. 



This, the prettiest of all the West- African Swallows, is 

 tolerably common in and about Cape Coast at certain seasons 

 of the year. I did not observe it until February or March, 

 but cannot positively assert that it is a regular migrant. A 

 pair frequented the grounds of Government House at Cape 

 Coast during the spring of 1871, building in a large stone 

 arched tank at the far end of the lawn. They appeared, in 

 common with many African species, to be fond of sitting on 

 the grass or gravel in the early morning. I have generally 

 observed them in pairs, sometimes singly, but never in flocks. 



106. Dryoscopus MAJOR, Hartl. : Sharpe, p. 47. 

 Commonly observed in the bushes about the settlements. 



It is a powerful bird for its size, and appears to be di'eaded 

 by other small birds. 



107. Chaunonotus sabinei (Gray) : Sharpe, p. 48. 

 Once very common near the settlements, but now not often 



to be seen. Its habits resemble those of Lanius smithi ; but 

 it is not so fond of open spaces as the latter, and keeps more 

 to the thick forest. 



