42 
The Birds of Gambia. 
Breed, like the Green Singing Finch, from about INIaj- to September. 
Generally plenty of yonng birds about by October. 
Poiiospiza canicapilla. 
Range. Senegambia to the Niger. {Sh.) 
Rare in Gambia. I have had three specimens alive, one of which is 
now ill the Zoo, and seen perhaps a dozen others. Generally in company 
with the two Serins and vSparrows. 
It is an unpretentious little grey bird, rather larger than a Singing 
Finch, with two or three black longitudinal stripes on its head. 
Passer dijjiisus, GREY-HEADKD SPARROW. 
Range. Africa, south of 17° N. lat. (Sh.) 
Common in Gambia. Seen in most villages associating with Fire- 
finches, etc., or in the fields outside with Cordon-Bleus, Weavers and others. 
Among the flock of Rock-Sparrows so numerous in Niumi one or two of 
the Grey-headed Sparrows are generally to be seen. The}' are rather shy 
birds and have none of the impudence of their English relatives. 
Breed in holes in walls or grass roofs, making very untidy nests of 
grass, wool, or other material. 
Eggs mottled pale buff. 
Petronia deniata. LESSER ROCK-SPARROW. 
Range. North Tropical Africa, between 9 and 18'' N. latitude. {Sh). 
Common in Gambia, especially near the sea. Large flocks often seen 
feeding on the sandy ground. 
The adult has a small yellow throat spot and an entirely grey head; 
the latter in the young being a light brown (like the back) with a sandy buff 
eyebrow. In some I took home I was able to watch this change of plumage 
during the time they have lived in my aviary. 
I have never found the eggs, which are described as pure white. 
They have two or three rather sweet notes, but can hardly be called 
" singers." 
Emberiza affinis. GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTING. 
Range. Senegambia, White Nile, Sennaar. [Sh.) 
This handsome Bunting must be verv rare in Gambia as I have only 
seen it on two occasions, once in 1904 when I came across two or three of 
them feeding in the thorn bushes in company with Cordons, Sparrows and 
Conibassous, and again in 1907, when I saw a single specimen. 
In size it is rather smaller than a Yellowhammer, its whole under 
surface briglit yellow; head black with five longitudinal streaks. 
Fringillaria septemstriala. RED-WINGED ROCK- BUNTING. 
Range. Senegambia to Niger and Abyssinia, {^h.) 
A brown Bunting with black head marked with seven white bands. 
I have never seen the bird in the Gambia. 
{To be continued). 
