2 My. G. L. Bates — Field-Notes on the 



Country, where I reached the village of Bezam, On this trip 

 most of my time was spent in travelling, and I got but few 

 birds and nothing new. After returning to the coast at Kribi, 

 I went back to the neighbourhood of the Ja, and settled at 

 the village of Bitye, whicli has been ray headquarters since 

 December 1905. In 1906, and again in 1907, 1 proceeded to 

 the coast, and on botli trips spent some time in collecting 

 between Efulen and Kribi. In April 1908 I went to the coast 

 once more to take the steamer for England. The places 

 ■where I collected are marked on tlie map which appeared 

 in 'The Ibis' for October 1908 (p. 558, pi. xi.) by a hue 

 drawn under the name. 



My specimens were obtained in various ways. The least 

 effective way, so far as the mere procuring of the birds was 

 concerned, was shooting them myself. Still, I have always 

 done this to some extent, for the sake of a better acquaintance 

 with the birds in life. Certain natives have often been en- 

 trusted with my guns to shoot sj)ecimens. Many of the 

 larger forms have been shot by my hunter, when his principal 

 object was four-footed game for meat. Some birds I have 

 bought (with little trade-articles) from natives, who shot 

 them with their own guns in the days when they could get 

 powder. Now that is no longer possible, for the German 

 Government has shut off the supply. I am the less sorry 

 for this, as it has caused the native hunters to return to their 

 crossbows and little arrows, which do not damage specimens 

 so much as shot. The bows they hold out in front of 

 them when they shoot, at arm's length (see text-fig. 1, p. 3), 

 sighting along the shaft or stock, on which is laid the tiny 

 arrow. These arrows are made of the split dry stalks of the 

 Raphia-^alm — the same that are used here in building houses. 

 They are only about eight inches long and little larger than 

 a knitting-needle. I never cease wondering at the skill dis- 

 played even by boys, who can send one of these little splinters 

 through the body of a bird no bigger than the thumb, often 

 from a considerable distance. The same little arrows, Avhen 

 poisoned, are used to kill monkeys, and even the large apes. 

 For birds they are not poisoned. The bow and little arrows 



