IN WESTERN LIBERIA. 139 



rels (Xeriis erijthopus), the first living, like hares, in nests 

 upon the ground, the latter in holes which they have 

 dug in the ground , live on cassavas , potatoes and the 

 sweet ground-nuts {Arachis hypogaea). The rice-farms are 

 visited by large flocks of weavers and other genera of Pas- 

 serine birds, which form a real plague to the owners of 

 the farms, about the time when the harvest approaches. 

 Birds of pray , much more seldom in the country than 

 could be expected , are , excepting the common Milvus 

 aegyptius , very thinly spread over the cultivated regions. 

 Only occasionally a pair of the rare Baza cuculoides is met 

 there, and at night-time we hear now and then the sad 

 voice of Syrnium nuchale. Whole clouds of Bee-eaters (Me- 

 rops albicollis) are swarming about, while another species 

 [M. erythropterus) keeps close to the ground , picking up 

 running beetles and other insects. Eurystomus gularis and 

 E. afer are sitting lazily on isolated twigs on the edge of 

 brushwood, while restless Nectariniae are swarming around 

 flowering shrubs, where their artificial pendular nests are 

 fixed to the ends of twigs. 



Along the ground and through the lower branches of 

 the brushwood runs the beautiful Pitta angolensis ; the 

 skirts of the neighbouring forest are peopled by different 

 genera of singing birds , as Turdus , Cossypha , Criniger , 

 Andropadus , Pycnonotus and Cysticola , while the more 

 open places are inhabited by Motacilla flava , Anthus gouldi , 

 and small flocks of Vanellus inornatus. 



Reptiles are very numerous in this district, and poi- 

 sonous snakes, as the dangerous Vipera rhinoceros and F. 

 nasicornis , Naja atropos and JV. rhombeata , as well as two 

 species of Agama and several species of Scincus are not 

 seldom met with , while amongst those which live under 

 the surface of the ground , must be mentioned the genera 

 Typhlops, Ophioproctus and Caecilia. Toads and frogs are 

 also very numerous , especially tree-frogs , which are repre- 

 sented by a large number of beautiful and interesting 

 species. The insect life is tolerably rich in the cultivated 



Notes from the Leyden Museuin, "Vol. VII. 



