40 Birds \of Gamhia. 



TJssoHs melanoc/aster. BLACK-BREASTED BUSTARD. 



Bange. Senegambia to Bengiiela; north east Afrioa, east 

 Africa; south to Natal. (H.L.) 



This species is considerably larger than the last, weight 6 to 

 71bs., and always to be distinguished by the blade in its plumage. 

 Their haunts are much the same, but towards the cad of the dry 

 season, one may come across them on the dry burnt swamps, where 

 I have never yet seen any other spec'es of Bustard. In such places 

 one may find half-a-dozen on quite a small area, evidently attracted 

 by the amount of insect life to be found there, especially soon after 

 the grass has been burnt. Although they occur throughout nur coun- 

 try, I think they are rather more common in Niumi and Kombo near 

 the Atlantic coast than elsewhere. 



Eupodotis arabs. 



This I believe must be the much lai'ger Bustard of the Upper 

 River and McCarthy Island Provinces. I have only seen them in 

 these parts and only in the winter months, as they are certainly dis- 

 tinctly rare here. In weight they vary from 17 to 20 lbs. 



Neotis denhami. 



The very large extremely rare whiskered bird referred to abo\'0 

 is a very occasional visitor. 



GRUID^. 



Balearica pavonina. CROWNED CRANE. 



Range. West to north-east and Equatorial Africa. (H.L). 



This well-known beautiful bird is the only Gambian represen- 

 tative of the family. They ace fairly common throughout our terri- 

 tory and breed in the larger swamps, especially those of Niamina on 

 the South Bank. Towards the end of the rains one often sees par- 

 ties Of six or eight feeding greedily on the growing rice in the rice- 

 fields, and on such a diet, that is, young rice eked out with table 

 scraps, etc., the three or four young birds I have had; have thrived 

 and grown rapidly. Native namei are, Komaro (Mandin;;"o), Jambajob, 

 Jamba (JolofT). 



(To be Continued). 



Purple Sunbirds. 



(Arachnechthra asia'ha). 



By Miss S. F. Chawner. 

 Towards the end of March, 1912, I received a true 

 pair of Purple Sunbirds from Mr. Hamlyn, who had imported 

 them the previous summer; thus they were house moulted, 

 and well acclimatised when they came into my possession. To 

 this, and the fine spring- of 1912, I think much of the success 

 I have had in keeping- this species must be attributed. They 



