70 Mr. H. T. Usslier on the 



143. Spermestes bicolor (Fras.): Sharpe^ p. 64. 



Not quite so common as S. cucullata aud others, but of 

 frequent occurrence on the Gold Coast. 



144. Lagonosticta rufopicta (Fras.) : Sharpe, p. QQ. 

 This pretty Uttle Bengali is one of the commonest birds on 



the west coast of Africa. It is extremely tame, frequenting 

 the vicinity of houses, and hopping about tlie yards with the 

 confidence of the common House- Sparrow of England. The 

 males in full plumage are extremely pretty. 



They build in low grass, on the seeds of which they also 

 feed, and are gregarious ; in the bush they will associate in 

 flocks with other Bengalis. 



145. Spermospiza h^ematina (V.) : Sharpe, p. 68. 

 Scarce. Procured by Aubinn in Denkera. 



146. Pyrenestes capitalbus, Temm. : Sharpe, p. 68. 



This bird is not common on the Gold Coast, although Au- 

 binn obtained it for me once or twice. Captain Haynes also 

 collected one or two specimens near Cape Coast and Accra. 



147. Macronyx croceus (V.) : Sharpe, p. 73. 



This handsome Lark is tolerably common in all p^rts of the 

 Gold Coast, and in many other parts of West Africa. It is 

 always to be obtained in open grassy spaces, and is almost 

 invariably in pairs. 



The male appears very fond of the female ; and while the 

 latter remains on the ground the male will take short flights 

 or " soars " above her. 



They will frequently perch on bushes, especially if disturbed; 

 but, as a rule, they prefer marshy or grassy ground. 



148. Trerox calva (Temm.) : Sharpe, Ibis, 1869, p. 194. 

 Appears on the Gold Coast in large flocks at certain seasons 



of the year; I have generally observed it from January to 

 March, 



They are very destructive, and are also much shot for food. 

 I have also seen them in large numbers in the mangrove- 

 forests bordering the creeks around Sierra Leone and the 

 Lagos Lagoons. 



