on the Pigeons of the Gambia.



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These lovely Fruit-Pigeons, clad in green, golden-yellow and

mauve, and as good to eat as they are to look at, are common all the

year round in the Gambia, but are wanderers, moving in parties from

place to place as the different trees which provide their food ripen

and are finished. At the beginning of the rainy season (June) a

more definite migration occurs. This is particularly noticeable in

Bathurst on the coast, where for a week or a fortnight large flocks

consisting entirely of young birds pass over in a more or less northerly

direction. At this time the “ Gang ” trees, a kind of evergreen fig,

which produce a low-grade rubber, are in fruit. On these the Pigeons

feed as they travel, and when flighting from one to the other offer

pretty shooting. Another similar movement takes place in the

reverse direction towards the end of the rainy season (October), but

this is a much smaller affair—less regular, and including old as well

as young birds. These flights vary considerably in size from year to

year. I can remember occasions when thousands would come over

daily, while in other years the numbers have been comparatively

small, and the short journey to the cemetery, where the best shoot¬

ing usually is, not worth making. I have known the Gambia for

eighteen years, and I feel sure that in the last six or seven there have

never been anything like the numbers of Green Pigeon there used to

be in these flights.


The breeding season of these birds begins about March, in

some cases perhaps earlier; at any rate, I have a note that on Feb¬

ruary 3rd, 1909, I shot a female, which dropped a fully-formed egg,

and I have frequently seen nests quite early in March. These are of

the most flimsy possible construction—a few twigs and rootlets

twisted together to form an apology for a nest, and situated in such

an apparently precarious situation that one wonders that the single

white egg ever remains in position and safety; it can always be easily

seen from below. The commonest site is a tabu tree, a large-leaved

evergreen, towards the extreme end of the wide-spreading branches,

where it sways about with every breeze. About 10 to 12 ft. from the

ground is where one generally finds the nest, but no doubt more are

built higher up and escape one’s observation. I expect I have seen

more nests in Commissioners’ compounds than elsewhere, as such

would come directly under notice, and in such situations the hen sits



