Ornithology of the Gambia. 225 



Chalcites smaragdineus. 



The most beautiful bird I saw on the West Coast ; its 

 skins, I regret to say, find a ready sale on the Gambia, owing 

 to the hateful traffic created by the French plumassiers. 



Chrysococcyx cupreus. 



coccystes glandarius, 



One on 21st December, 1889. 



CoCCYSTES CAFER. 



Centropus senegalensis. 



This bird, which the natives call the Doodoo or " Snake- 

 bird,'^ is very common. Its cry, which is five or six times 

 repeated in a descending scale, whilst it bows like a Hoopoe, 

 has gained it the first name. Whether it feeds on snakes I 

 know not ; lizards, however, I can answer for. 



POGONORHYNCHUS DUBIUS. 



This quaint-looking bird I saw on the mainland on several 

 occasions. 



POGOXORHYXCHUS VIEILLOTI. 



One specimen shot near Bathurst. 

 Barbatula chrysocoma. 



pyocephalus sexegalus. 



On the mainland this bird is not unfrequently met with 

 in flocks. 



Pal.^ornis docilis. 



This bird is constantly kept in captivity by the negroes, 

 and certainly deserves its specific name, but I never knew 

 one that could imitate human vocal sounds or even whistle 

 a tune. 



Scops leucotis. 



This bird I secured alive, and reluctantly converted into 

 a skin, as my black boy refused either to feed it or to live 

 with it, saying, " Hah, massa, da debil bird, I fear him too 

 much, he go witch me for sure ! " He did make strange 

 noises at night I must admit. 



sER. VI. — vol.. IV. Q 



