on birds of the Gambia.



149



Of the Turaeos two species are common, the Grey* (the

“ Kowkow ”) and the “Blue”! (the “ Kowkow King”), while a

third, the Green Turaco.j a rather smaller bird, is much rarer and

very local.


During the winter we are visited by the common Hoopoe,

while the Wood Hoopoe,§ a black, long-tailed bird with white-spotted

wings, is a resident.


Bee-eaters, too, are very numerous. Of these the Dwarf ; and

the Red * appear to be permanent residents, although they move

about the country a good deal, while two or three other species of

green Bee-eater are only visitors, usually in large flocks and during

the rains.


Rollers: The “Blue Jay,” or Senegal Roller, ** is the commonest

representative of this family in the Gambia, but three other species

are also numerous : the Blue-bodied, the White-naped, and the Broad¬

billed Rollers.11 The latter is a crimson, blue, and buff bird, built

somewhat on the lines of a Swallow, which spends the greater part

of the day resting on the tree-tops, sallying forth towards evening to

hawk in flocks of flies and other insects till long after the sun has set.


Of the Nightjars, the Pennant-winged j \ is the most note¬

worthy. This bird has one feather-shaft in each wing prolonged to

end in a racket-shaped enlargement, and these, bobbing about behind

it as it flies, make it look like an Owl or other large bird being

mobbed by a couple of Sparrows. It is quite common in the

Gambia.


Our common Swift is a dull black, white-rumped bird

(Cypselus affinis ), and is a resident here — at any rate, some appear

to be always with us. The European Swift is a regular winter

visitor, but I think usually only makes a short stay on his way to

and from a more southerly destination.


The various European Swallows are winter visitors in large

numbers, while the Senegal Swallow, a large bird with bright rufous



* Schizorhis. } Musophaga.


1 Turacus. § Irrisor.


|| Melittophagus pusillus. *J Merops Nubicus.



** Coracias senegalensis.


ft Coracias cyanogaster, C. navius, Eurystomus afer.


1 1 Macrodipteryx macrodipterus.



