Birds from Sierra Leone. 197 



Dicrurus coracinus. 



Specimen No. 322 may be referable to this species. 



Family ORiOLiDiE. 



Oriolus auratus. 



Two specimens, one immature, were obtained by Dr. Bower 

 in the Karine District. Capt. Long, R.A.M.C, also showed 

 rae a specimen which he had obtained in the same district. I 

 never saw this bird myself. 



Oriolus roUeti. 



Mendi name, '' dogbori-bakwi " =" bush-talker." 



Family Sturnid/E. 



Pholidauges leucogaster. 



This handsome Starling is common during most of the 

 year about Freetown. In May and June it is found in small 

 flocks, especially at sundown, but it appears to disperse 

 for breeding purposes in July and August. In October, 

 again, it is seen going about in flocks of from ten to forty 

 individuals. Its note is a single sharp staccato whistle. 



Irides pale yellow ; bill black. 



Lamprocolius splendidus. 



Not common. I obtained only one specimen, one of 

 three or four seen at Yandu in the Bumpe Cliiefdom, 

 though I believe I saw it occasionally elsewhere. 



Family Ploceid^. 



Lagonosticta polionota. 



This species occurs only in pairs, and does not appear to 

 mingle with the flocks of other small Ploceidae, and is most 

 frequently met with in open bush or grass country. 



Lagonosticta senegala. 



Very plentiful and tame. It is often to be seen in the 

 streets of Freetown helping itself to the riceex[)osed for sale 

 in the native shops. In gardens it will come and pick up 

 crumbs within a few feet of where one is sitting-. 



