564 Mr. (jr. L. Bates on the Breeding -Seasons 



such continual breeders as some others, for a large proportion 

 of them, found at all times, were not in the breeding 

 condition. 



The Colics. — Many nests of Colius m'griscapalis with eggs 

 or young Avere found, besides the birds killed, of which the 

 breeding-organs were examined. The greater number of the 

 nests with eggs, and also of the breeding-birds, were obtained 

 in the two rainy seasons ; and the greatest number of all in 

 the rainiest time, October and November. Yet not all were 

 found at those times: breeding-birds were killed in December 

 and in February, and a nestling was found in August — all 

 dry months. 



The Hornbills. — Specimens of the large black Hornbill 

 {Ceratogymna atrata) were examined on the two collecting- 

 trips in the great forest near the coast, between Efulen and 

 Kribi : the first in the month of September, which is very 

 rainy there, and the other in July, a dry month. In 

 September, of three birds none were ascertained to be near 

 their breeding-time. In July (wdth the last days of June), of 

 six birds all had the sex-organs more or less enlarged. This 

 evidence, so far as it goes, points to a preference for the dry 

 season ; but in the fragmentary evidence at hand regarding 

 other Hornbills, no such decided preference appears. 



The Bee-eaters. — The two species of Melittophagus seem 

 to prefer the first (and at the Ja, where the recorded 

 observations were all made, the drier) dry season. Yet 

 eggs of M. australis were found also in April, which is 

 moderately rainy. 



The Goatsitckers. — All the specimens obtained were 

 breeding ; this is partly, no doubt, because most of them 

 had been shot while sitting on their eggs. They breed in 

 the two dry seasons and in the first, or more moderately 

 rainy one. 



The Flycatchers. — Of birds of this family a large number 

 of observations are recorded for a good many species. I 

 have written out summaries for several of these species 

 but the results may be told in few words. They shew^ no 

 particular preference, breeding-birds and young being found 



