ON THE BIRD-LIFE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA 21 



Beyond this forest region there are broad stretches of 

 country, well-watered and thickly covered with dwarf trees 

 and bush, and frequented by birds of the open country, 

 in other words, what is generally known as the Senegambian 

 fauna, which includes sun-birds, black tits, weavers, grass- 

 warblers, bush-shrikes, bee-eaters, woodpeckers, glossy 

 starlings, hornbills, and francohns. All these find their way 

 across Africa to the south of the bend of the Niger, then 

 through the broad valleys of the Benue and Shari rivers, 

 eventually gaining the country l>^ng directly to the north of 

 the Ubangui and Welle rivers, and so to the Nile. 



And then, coming close to the highway of the Senegam- 

 bian fauna, is the route of that of the Sudan, which includes 

 many species of larks, bustards, several nightjars, the sand 

 grouse, rock sparrows, and the little black-headed bunting 

 larks, all of which inhabit the more open plains and deserts 

 that are covered with mimosa and gum-trees, and spread 

 across the Continent from the River Senegal by way of 

 Northern Hausaland, Bornu and Lake Chad, from whence 

 to the Nile, they follow an almost straight line through the 

 provinces of Wadai and Darfur. 



The extent of the distribution in these areas, with the 

 exception, perhaps, of that in the forest region, is influenced 

 a good deal by the presence of rivers and streams. This is 

 quickly perceived by watching the banks and vicinity of 

 some river, for in such a locality numbers of birds may 

 be seen congregated and continually following its course. 

 These migration movements take place more often in the dry 

 season when food and water are scarce in the open country. 



As the traveller passes through the miles of monotonous 



