The Birds of Gambia. 
35 
also many insects as well, capturing them on the wing, flying out in 
pursuit of a passing insect and returning again to the same perch — 
they also state that they have been observed clinging to the bark of 
a tree, Woodpecker-fashion, the male digging busily with his bill, 
while his mate sat by quietly watching; but whether this was for 
the purpose of excavating a nest hole, or to extract insects is not 
stated, most probably the former for these birds make their nests 
in some decayed tree and lay their eggs on the bare wood using 
no nest material. They often take possession of an ant's nest, 
■enlarging and adapting it for their own purpose. 
I am inclined to tlie opinion that this species would live lon- 
ger in captivity, if, wlien it could not be given during the summer 
months quarters in a outdoor aviary, it were trained to come out 
of its cage daily and some of its favourite food were hung up at 
some distance from a branch,* thus forcing it to take it in a 
somewhat similar manner to their custom when at liberty in their 
native haunts. For birds of .so indolent a demeanour the exercise 
would be most advantageous and probably lengthen its life very 
considerably ; also to see this species on the wing would be a 
revelation of beauty, scarcely realisable by those who have only 
seen it in a cage, where apart from its rarity and beauty it gave 
the impression of being dull and uninteresting. 
^bc Bir^s of Gambia. 
By E. HoPKiNSON, D.S.O., M.A., M.B. 
(Continued from page 9). 
Q. russi. RUSS'vS WEAVER. 
Range. Transvaal, probably extending to West Africa. ? Gambia 
{B. M. Cat.). I liave never seen this pink-fronted variety in the Gambia, 
but I am nearly sure that .'ionie of those I have taken home from here, have 
turned out to be such wlien their colour came. 
Q. erythrops. RED-HEADED WEAVER. 
Range. Senegambia to Angola and Equatorial Africa (Sh.) I have 
not met with this species in Gambia. 
Nigrita bicolor. 
Range. Senegambia to Volta River [Sh). 
A small grey-black Weaver with dark chestnut front and under 
surface. 
* i.i'. its resting place or percli. 
