Birds from Sierra Leone. 225 



Family Scopidje. 



Scopus umbretta. 



This species was originally described by Gmelin (Syst. Nat. 

 i. pt. 2, 1789^ p. 618) from specimens obtained ia Senegal. 

 On comparing two examples from the Bumpe R, in Sierra 

 Leone, which I obtained ia 1911, with the series in the 

 British Museum from south and east Africa, I found that 

 they were considerably smaller and generally darker in colora- 

 tion, the wing-measurements of my specimens being about 

 254 mm., as compared with 300 to 330 mm. in the south and 

 east African specimens. Mr. D. A. Bannerman veiy kindly 

 went carefully through the series in the British Museum, and 

 also, through the kindness of the Hon. Walter Rothschild 

 and Dr. Hartert of the Tring Museum, was able to examine 

 specimens from western Senegal and southern Nigeria, and 

 found that the smaller size and darker coloration appears to 

 be characteristic of the west African form. 



In 1913 I obtained several more specimens from the 

 Sherbro and Bagru Rivers, where they Avere common. 

 These specimens agree in size and coloration with those 

 previously obtained, nor did I observe any of the larger 

 and paler form. The south and east African form may be 

 worthy of distinction as a separate subspecies. 



Family CHARADRIIDiE. 



Charadrius hiaticula. 



Common about Freetown during the dry season. 



Family Heliornithid.^. 



Podica senegalensis. 



One specimen only obtained on the Bum River. It was 

 shot while swimming. 



Family Columbid^. 



Turturcena iriditorques. 



This fine Pigeon is fairly common in the hill-forest of the 

 Peninsula, but, owing to its living in the tops of tall trees, 

 it is extremely difficult to obtain specimens. 



SER. X. — VOL. II. Q 



