on the Pigeons of the Gambia.



31



They do quite well in captivity, and are fairly commonly

imported, generally under the name of Triangular-spotted Pigeon,

but here they are rarely caught by our people, few of whom are

either real hunters or keen bird-catchers. Their Mandingo name is

“ Kallawari.”


The most noteworthy features of this bird are the bifurcated

neck-feathers, the white triangular wing-spots, and the striking

contrast between the clear grey of the back and the maroon-brown

of the wings, etc.


An adult may be described as follows: The head, whole back,

including the upper tail-coverts and the under surface from chin to

vent are a beautiful clear ash-grey. A broad collar of chestnut and

white feathers, each bifurcated at its end, surrounds the neck. The

scapulars and adjacent part of the wing-coverts are uniform maroon-

brown, the median coverts maroon-brown with a triangular white

mark at the end of each feather, the lowest row of coverts and those

near the outer edge of the wing grey with similar white tips, which

diminish in size from within outwards. The quills are dark-grey

both above and below, and the under wing-coverts ash-grey like the

breast. The tail-feathers are ash-grey, faintly banded once with

darker grey, and broadly tipped with black. The bill is lead-coloured,

the legs pink in front, dirty flesh-colour (as are also the toes) behind.

The iris is dull pale amber. The large bare circumorbital area is

purplish-crimson. Length varies from 14 to 15 in. according to the

age (and perhaps the sex) of the bird.


The young resemble the adult, except that the plumage L

generally duller and the contrasts are less marked, while the tail-

feathers are definitely brown tipped with darker instead of the grey

and white of the old bird.



The Rixg-necked Dove (Streptopelia vinacea).


Pvange: West Africa, Senegambia to Loango; N.E. Africa. (Brit.

Mus. Hand List.)


These are by far the commonest Doves in the Gambia, and

are found everywhere in large numbers—on the farms round the



