Ornithology of the Gambia. 227 



AltDEA GULARIS. 



Common. Seen in company of cattle. 



BUTORIDES ATRICAPILLUS. 



Very abundant. Its nest is composed of tliorny twigs, 

 on which slight platform it deposits usually three eggs. 

 This species builds in colonies, and I have often counted 

 five or six nests in a single mimosa tree. 



Scopus umbretta. 



Common in suitable situations. 



Leptoptilus crumentferus. 



A pair of this Stork which I brought from Bathurst in 

 1890 are still in excellent health in the Zoological Society's 

 Gardens. On the Gambia the natives often protect these 

 birds, as they prove useful as scavengers, and they build 

 in and around their villages. A tame one in Bathurst 

 was an adept at rat-catching in the merchant's yard where 

 he was confined. 



Plectropterus gambensis. 



Dendrocygna viduata. 



Shot some little distance up the river. 



Treron calva. 



This bird was as valuable in West Africa as the Quail was 

 formerly in the wilderness. During the rainy season there 

 seems to be a constant flow of migrants from the S.W. 

 Incredible numbers are shot, and every negro who has a 

 gun lies in wait for them from sunrise to sunset. They 

 are easy of approach and fall readily when hit. Personally 

 I can vouch for their excellence on the table. 



TURTUR AURITUS. 



Not at all uncommon. 



TuRTUR SEMITORQUATUS. 



Some of these Uoves follow the same line of flight towards 

 the N.E. as the Treron calva, but as a rule fly higher, and 

 requii-e much straighter shooting to In-ing tiicm down. 



Q 2 



