Ornithology of the Gold Coast. 67 



English Starlings in tlieir habits ; and their flight is also rather 

 like that of these bii'ds. 



124. CoRvus SCAPULATUS, Daud. : Sharpe, p. 57. 



This handsome Crow is widely distributed on the Gold 

 Coastj as well as in all parts of Western Africa between Sene- 

 gambia and Lagos. He is a very general scavenger^ and takes 

 the place of our common Carrion-Crow, difi'ering from this 

 latter, however, in that he is frequently seen in large num- 

 bers. I have often stood, towards sunset, on the low range 

 of hillocks bordering the Salt Lake at Accra, and watched them 

 flying homewards in a continuous but scattered flock until 

 dark. They are by no means shy, but appear to have an 

 instinctive knowledge of a gun, like the English Rook. I 

 have waited sometimes a considerable time endeavouring to 

 get a shot at them ; but although many have appeared coming 

 in a straight line towards me, they have invariably diverged 

 irom their course when within a hundred yards, and kept a 

 safe distance between us. Under ordinary circumstances, 

 when not alarmed, they will permit of a close approach, 

 especially if alone. 



125. PicATHARTES GYMNOCEPHALUs (Temm.) : Sharpe, p.57. 

 (Plate II.) 



Three of these singular birds were collected by me during 

 my last sojourn on the Gold Coast. The skins all came from 

 Denkera, and were in very good preservation. They had not 

 been before brought to Cape Coast, and are said to be rare. 



I could not obtain much information as to their habits. 

 Aubinn, who brought me the skins, affirms that they are 

 found in rocky forest-grounds, generally in the neighbourhood 

 of streams, that they build amongst rocks, and that they 

 feed on fresh- water shell-fish, snails, and reptiles. This state- 

 ment, however, I cannot vouch for personally. 



The young bird and the egg here figured along with the 

 adult (Plate II.) were procured by Mr. Aubinn in Denkera, 

 and are now in the British Museum. 



126. Hyphantornis castaneofusca (Less.) : Sharpe, p. 59. 

 Very common in Fantee, especially round Cape Coast. 



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