riie Birds of (uimliUi. 
49 
The Birds of Gambia. 
By E. HOPKIXSON, D.S.O., M.A., M.B. 
(CoiitiiiitPtl from p. 297, Vol. VIII.) 
MUSICAPIDAE. 
Melaenoruix rdolhmhs BLACK FLYCATCHER. 
RaiKje. Senegambia to (iold Coast ; North-east and Equatorial 
Africa. (H.L.i 
A wholl}' black bird about the size of a Lark, which is to be met with 
throughout the Protectorate just before and during the rains, while a few also 
certainly remain with us all the year round in .some parts of the country, 
particularlj' those which are the better wooded and watered. They are 
rather solitary birds which have all the habits of the common Flycatcher, 
selecting some favourite perch from which they take short flights after their 
prey. The only sound I have ever heard them utter is a short low call-note. 
Their Mandingo name is Seora-Seo. 
The following description is that of a specimen shot in November. 
All dull black except for a greyish wash on the under surface of the wings ; 
the head has just a suggestion of a crest and there are a few rictal bristles, 
iris, black ; legs and feet, black. Length, 8| inches. 
Brudyorniit pallida. 
Rancfe. North-east to East Africa. ( H.L.) 
The late Mr. Budgett mentions this bird (a small brown Flycatcher 
with paler under surface) as common in the Gambia up the river. I do not 
know it myself. 
Mwch-apa i/rlxola. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 
Riunie. Europe. West and South Africa in winter. ( H.L.) 
This bird is common here all the winter months, especially along the 
river, where his methods and manners are in no wa.y different from those 
we know so well at home, — here one hopes that the chief article of his diet 
is the ever-present mosquito. 
M. aquat/ca 
Range. Equatorial Africa ; Senegambia. ( II. L.J 
Flycatchers like ours, but smaller and with unspotted breasts, and 
more uniform pale bellies, are common all along the river and its creeks all 
the year round, where one generally sees them in pairs. These must be M. 
aquatica, which is described as only differing from M gri.iola in having an 
uniform unstreaked breast. In November, 19U5, I saw two young being 
fed by an old bird, and a few yards away noticed a typical pair of the spotted 
breasted species ; the first must have just nested here, while, I suppose, the 
other two were recent arrivals from Europe. 
M. atricapilla. PIED FLYCATCHER. 
Range. Europe ; West and North-east Africa in Winter. (if.Z.) 
Specimens have been obtained in the Gambia. 
Heliota flavigastra. 
Range. Senegambia and North-east Africa {H.L.) 
