COLLECTED ON THE COAST OF WESTERN AFRICA. 
this bird. It was shot while flying with a short jerking flight over 
an open plain, on which reeds and grasses grew thickly, to the height 
of about a foot and a half. Its gizzard was filled with remains of 
grasses, and insects, apparently beetles.” 
“ Corythaix senegalensis — (56) — Shot in the dense forest in 
the vicinity of Cape Coast Castle, September 9. This bird is very 
frequently seen on this part of the Gold Coast; hut being very 
wary, and seldom leaving the highest trees, it is extremely difficult 
to shoot. The note is a very hoarse kind of crow. 
“ The bill, in afresh state, is all of a pale orange colour ; the iris 
light chestnut. The arrangement of the feathers in front of the eye 
is peculiar, pointing upwards, covering the nostrils, and joining at 
the forehead, conceals about the proximal half of the upper man- 
dible. The nostrils are oval, large, and open, but covered by the 
feathers. 
“ This bird seems to approach very closely that which Swainson 
alludes to (p. 226) as described by Edwards, except that in this the 
crest is of a uniform grass green colour, wffiereas the one figured 
by Edwards is described as tipped with red. The white streak, 
which Mr. Swainson states as not existing in any of his specimens, 
is very distinct under the eye of mine, so is also the glossy black 
streak, or rather spot, which occupies the anterior and lower third 
of the orbit, and separates this white streak from the one which 
extends upwards and backwards to about a third the extent of the 
upper eyelid. The arrangement of the legs and feet are peculiar. 
The whole length of the posterior surface of the tarsus is rough, 
as if covered with small warty excrescences. The outer toe is ver- 
satile, as I have myself witnessed in a bird of this species, which 
was for some time kept in a cage. Although these birds are doubt- 
less exceedingly beautiful, I cannot agree with the description given 
by Le Vaillant: — When flying in the rays of a powerful sun, their 
various colours contrast beautifully, but their flight is rather clumsy 
than elegant ; and when perched on a tree, they always seem as if 
cowering from a person’s view.” 
“ Centropus senegalensis — (58) — Called by the F an tees ‘ Berak - 
^Oo,’ and known among the residents on the gold coast as the 
‘ Scotchman,’ probably on account of its being such a remarkably 
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