on birds of the Gambia.



145



Besides the “ Bush-fowl,” three other Francolins occur, but none of

these are common. Another game bird, locally known as the “ Stone

Bush-fowl,” which is found in parties of six to ten among the

bamboos on the ironstone ridges, is Ptilopachys fusca, a bird about

the size of and very like a hen bantam. Guineafowl are common in

many parts of the country and provide good food, if not the good

shooting we owe to the “ Bush-fowl.” In the winter months Quail

(either Goturnix coturnix or capensis ) visit us and are then frequently

to be met with in pairs in the millet fields.


Of the Sand-Grouse we only have one species, Pterocles

quadricinctus, a beautiful bird in which the chest of the male is

banded with stripes of deep brown and white. These are common

all the year round, but a great increase in their number is noticeable

in June and December, when those which breed in the desert are

passing through on their way to or from their nesting haunts.


Two species of Bustard are resident with us ( Otis senegalensis

and melanogaster), the first being about three pounds in weight, the

second about seven. A few of a much larger bird, probably Eupo-

dotis arabs, visit us during the winter months. All these Bustards

are excellent eating, but even the smaller ones are comparatively rare

and not to be obtained any day like the “ Bush-fowl.”


Another chief supplier of the Protectorate official’s larder is

the Pigeon family, which is numerously represented in the Gambia.

First come the lovely green, yellow and mauve “ Fruit Pigeons,”*

which are more or less migratory, as they move about the country,

according to the time of ripening of the different wild fruit trees

on which they feed. Besides this brilliantly coloured fruit-eating

species, at least five species of Dove are common, the largest being

Turtur se?nitorquatus, popularly known here as the “ Black Pigeon,”

while a larger species still is the “ Khun ” or “ Guinea Pigeon,”!

which is only found in Khun Palm (Alyssus) districts, and which is

certainly diminishing in numbers with the increase in the number of

trading stations, which of necessity encroach on many of its haunts.


Of the Waders, among the more noticeable are the Spurwing

Plover, Whimbrel, and Curlew, Stilts, various kinds of Sandpiper

and Stint, etc., while on every freshwater swamp one sees flocks of



* Vinago.



f Columba Guinea.



