Birds of Gambia 
9'.) 
in a small Xmas tree, growing in the wire covered flight. 
The nest was placetl about throe feet from the ground; four 
'eggs were again laid, tliroo of wliiidi wcrt^ liateliod, and not- 
withstanding some severe rainstorms that occurred during the 
following week all were succe-^sfully reared and flew. After 
the moult, the young assumed the j)!umage of tlie hen bird. 
Birds of Gambia. 
By E. HoPKiNsoN, D.S.O., M.A., M.B. 
{('onlinued from j>oge 41) 
PLATALEIDAE. 
Ihv- aelhiopim. SACRED IBIS. 
Ban()C. Nearly fho wholo of Afiica. 
Tliis bird, our " WliiSe Ihis." is not at all uiicinninon all along 
the river, where small parties of three or four ara often seen, 
flying overhead, or wading about the shallows near the banks. At 
times, too, they may he found on the cultivated lands away from 
water, looking for food there in the shape of lizards or locusts a.nd. 
other large insects, though as a general rule most of their pT'ovender^ 
must be of a wa,ter-haunting nature. In captivity they appear 
to do well, if one can judge from the occasional examples one sees 
running about some up-river trader's yard and living on scraps, 
" chok " (duck-food) and whatever else they can ])ick up. 
The general colour is white with a black head and neck, 
and metallic purplish-black wing-tips and elongated .scapular plumes 
of the same colour. In the adult the black-skinned head .and neck 
are bare, but the young have these paits covered with short downy 
black feathers mottled and heie and there with grey; the ornamental 
winig-phimes loo, are absent or very much less noticeable. The 
length of an adult is about 35 inches- The flesh of a young bird 
of both our common Ibises is quite eatable, though that of an old one 
iis hard and fishy in flavour. Even a young one is better stewed 
than roasted and is much improved by skinning before cooking'. 
Hcujea^ir.hia hngedaxh. HAGEDASH IBIS. 
Range. Tropical Africa. (H.L). 
This species is rather commoner than the White Ibis in 
Gambia, where it is usually known as the " Black Ibis." They 
glenerally doze through the heat of the day on some high tree, out 
in the mornings and evenings are to be found feeding in the swamps, 
rice-fields, or along the creeks, and also on the corn and ground- 
nut fields, generally in parties of five or six. They are always 
most wary biids, and most difficult to appi-oach, rising and flying: 
off at the slightest sign of any suspicious attempt to get near them 
Their food consi.sts of larjre insects, frogs, etc.. Init thev do not 
