] 40



Dr. E. Hopkmson—Gambian Boilers



upon it as their permanent abode, and some forty pairs settled down

to nest. By 1919 the colony had increased to thousands, and it is one

of the most charming sights to an ornithologist to stand at their roosting-

place any day just before sunset to watch these birds drop in in parties

of eight to fifty, and after circling round in graceful evolutions drop

into the trees, where with much noise the events of their busy day are

eagerly discussed before darkness sends them off to sleep. With but

little imagination one can fancy them, like sportsmen in the smoking-

room after dinner, relating their prowess with large fish or entering

into a heated argument as to the best methods of landing their prey

or the best places where sport is to be got.


In every respect they are most delightful birds and worthy of

much study from both the ornithological and avicultural standpoint.

They are, in religion, undoubtedly sun-worshippers, and our damp,

inhospitable climate does not suit them; none the less they do fairly

well here in captivity, though I doubt if they would be likely to breed.

But if an aviculturist wants a nice tame companionable bird he cannot

do better than keep the Buff-backed Heron.


Most of the remarks in the foregoing article would apply equally

well to the Little Egret, from which the “ osprey ” plumes are got.

See Astley, A.M., Ser. Ill, Vol. IV, 1913, p. 238, and Vol. VIII, 1917,

p. 323. This species spent the winter of 1918-19 in the Gardens and

at least two pairs remained to breed.



GAMBIAN ROLLERS


By Dr. E. Hopkinson, D.S.O.


This year I succeeded in getting home a living specimen of Coracias

ncevius, the largest of the Gambian Rollers. He is now in the Zoo.

This prompts me to reprint an account of these birds which I wrote

some years ago, and to add a few further details.


In the Gambia we have representatives of two genera, Coracias

and Eurystomus, which are among the most conspicuous of our birds

on account of the brilliant colours of their plumage, their fearlessness

of man, and the habit, which most of them have, of selecting the top of



