The Birds of Ga7nbia. 
289 
recovered from the immersion. The onh' objection to this 
remedy is that it smells like rotten eggs. 
Petrol is also a good remedy, bnt somewhat dangerous to 
the bird and its attendant. Stavesacre seeds and tobacco made 
into a decoction are effectual. 
Pi ecautioji. — Treat all ragged looking birds offered for sale 
as suspicions, especially when they are intended for turning 
down with other birds in the farm-yard or aviarj-. 
( To be co7itinued.) 
^tbc BuDs of (Bambia. 
By E. HoPKiNSON, D.S.O., M.A., M.B. 
(Conlinued from page 263). 
JJRACHYFODID^. 
J'vttiotiolus btxybalitx. DUSKY BUI,BUL. 
Raii>;e. N.W. Africa, West. Afiica, Seiie<5aiiibia to Nij^eria. (H.L.) 
One of our commonest birds, lo be fouiiil every wbere in small parties, 
in the gardens in Rathursl, round every native villaj^e and almost all over 
llie surrounding l)ush. It is a small plainly coloured bird about inches 
in length, its general colour being sepia brown, darker on the hea<l, which 
is slightly crested, wings and tail, and paler below shading into almost 
white on the abdomen. Iris brown, bill and feet black. Sexes alike. They 
are cheerful little birds, nearly always on the move, and of a very inquisitive 
disposition, examining carefully every leaf and twig as they flit about the 
bushes and every irregularity on the giouiid which they frequently visit to 
look for insects or dropped fruit, etc. The nest is a very slight structure, a 
frail cup of grass-stems, small roots or fibres, geneially placed some ten 
feet from the ground in some thickisli small tree, such as an orange or lime. 
The eggs are greyish, white marbled, and spotted with reddish-brown. 
To judge from two I kept in a cage for some months until they 
eventually escaped, these birds are easily reconciled to captivity and are 
there anything but difficult lo cater for. 
These two birds, adult fresh-caught birds, I kept in a box cage, about 
two feet cube in measurement. Three days after his capture the cock (I 
think they were a true pair) began to sing, not I must own, a very elaborate 
strain, bnt the two or three whistled notes we all know so well out here 
and which the Hathurst boys translate as " Sixpence a day, si.xpenee a 
day." They lived on bananas and oranges and appeared to flourish on tliis 
diet ; all the time I ke])t them they remained in ])erfect plumage, weie 
very lively, and always ready for their bath. At first I repeatedly tried 
hem with various kinds of insects and also with the native fruits, one sees 
