146



Dr. E. Hopkinson,



Jaganas, long-toed, short-winged, chestnut-coloured birds, which in

different parts of the world are sometimes known as “ Lily-trotters,”

and by the natives here as “ Water-chickens.” At the commence¬

ment of the rains Painted Snipe usually visit us in fair numbers.


Some ten species of Duck are inhabitants of the Gambia.

These vary in size from the large black and white Spurwing Goose

down to the little “ Cotton Teal,” both of which are resident with us,

as also is the Knob-billed Duck, while Tree-Ducks ( Dendrocygna)

invade us in huge hosts at the beginning of the rains and remain till

about January, a certain number indeed remaining right up to the

arrival of the next influx, though they then have to move about the

country, as the swamps on which they feed dry up one after the other.

Among winter visitors from the north I have seen and shot the

common European Teal, which appears to be a regular migrant to

this country.


The Heron family is well represented, the most numerous

being the White Egrets, of which we have three species, two entirely

white, the third, the “ Cattle Egret,” white, with a buff back. The

last is commonly known here as the “ Tick-bird ” or “ Cow-bird,”

from its constant association with the herds of cattle which are

such a conspicuous feature of the Gambian landscape and such an

important factor in the native cecology. Other species are the Black¬

necked Heron, a very similar bird to the Common Heron of Europe,

which is also found here, the large and handsome Goliath Heron, the

little Mangrove Bittern, and lastly the aberrant short-legged form,

the “ Hammerhead ” (Scojms), locally known here as the “ Jola

King,” which is to be seen on every swamp, and whose enormous

nests on water-side trees are so frequent along the banks of the river

and its creeks, anywhere above the mangrove area, as to remind one

of lamp-posts or telegraph poles along a street at home.


Storks are represented by the everywhere abundant “ Mara¬

bout,” and the taller but much less common “ Saddle-bill.”*


Pelicans, Cormorants, and Darters are common along the

river, as also are the purplish-black Hagedash Ibises, while the

latter’s white, black-necked relative, the Sacred Ibis, is also a well-

known though rarer Gambian bird. Among the most noteworthy of



Ephippiorhynclms.



