The Birds of Gambia. 
215 
LA Nil D.^. 
Cotvinellacoivina. I,ONG-TAILRD vSIIRIKE. 
Range. Seuegaiiibia. {Brit. Museum Hand-List). 
Very comiiioii in the Gambia. Parties of six to twelve are seen 
hopping about the bushes and flj ing with rather feeble flight from place to 
place ill their seaich for insects. They are among the most regular attend- 
ants at bush fires, and when an antheap is broken down are always the first 
birds to appear to feast 011 its inhabitants and their eggs. 
It is a plainly coloured bird with a long tail, (total length \\\ inches, 
tail 6J inches), and short round wings; its plumage consists of buffs and 
brown of various shades, paler below than above. The bill is yellow, the 
legs brown (or dull olive in younger birds) ; the iris greenish brown. 
Maiidingo name, Se-seo. 
Fiscus smilhi. 
Range. Seneganibia to Congo. (H.L.) * 
A bird rather like the Knglish Red-backed Shrike but very dark 
brown above, which I think I have occasionally seen here. 
Lanius pomeranius. WOODCH.AT. 
Range. Central and South Europe. Seiiegambia and North Aussa- 
land in winter. (H.L.) 
L. nubicus. MASKED SHRIKE. 
Range. S.E. Europe to Persia. Seiiegambia (winter). (H.L.) 
In January and February I often see Shrikes which I am sure are 
either Woodchat or Masked Shrikes, though I do not know which. They 
are always single and usually seen sitting on the compound fence or on 
some tall corn-stalk on the look-out for insects. 
Nilaus afer. 
Range. N.W., N.E., and Equatorial Africa. (H.L.) 
A stoutly-built, short-tailed bird, about 55 inches long. Above it is 
brown, below whitish ; the crown and a line from the eye backwards down 
side of neck black, rest of face whitish. Bill bluish black, feet lead-coloured. 
Not very common in Gambia, but to be met with in the bush in 
various places, generally singly. 
Laniarius barbaius. BARBARY BUSH-SHRIKE. 
Range. Seiiegambia to Nigeria. (H.L.) 
Our handsomest Shrike. Forehead and crown yellow-ochre, rest of 
upper surface deep black ; under surface from chin to vent and under tail- 
coverts, which are light brown, brilliant scarlet. Sexes alike. 
Quite couinion in Gambia all the year round. They frequent, (prac- 
tically always in pairs) the outskirts of thick bush, particularly along the 
edges of the swamps, where their striking scarlet and black livery shows 
* H. L. here and in future— the British Museum Hand-list of Birds. 
