67 
Ornithology of the Gold Coast. 
English Starlings in their habits; and their flight is also rather 
like that of these birds. 
124. Corvus sc apulatu s, Band.: Sharpe, p. 57. 
This handsome Crow is widely distributed on the Gold 
Coast, as well as in all parts of Western Africa between Sene- 
gambia and Lagos. He is a very general scavenger, and takes 
the place of our common Carrion-Crow, differing from this 
latter, however, in that he is frequently seen in large num¬ 
bers. I have often stood, towards sunset, on the low range 
of hillocks bordering the Salt Lake at Accra, and watched them 
flying homewards in a continuous but scattered flock until 
dark. They are by no means shy, but appear to have an 
instinctive knowledge of a gun, like the English Rook. I 
have waited sometimes a considerable time endeavouring to 
get a shot at them; but although many have appeared coming 
in a straight line towards me, they have invariably diverged 
from their course when within a hundred yards, and kept a 
safe distance between us. Under ordinary circumstances, 
when not alarmed, they will permit of a close approach, 
especially if alone. 
125. Picathartes gymnocephalus (Temm.): Sharpe, p. 57. 
(Plate II.) 
Three of these singular birds were collected by me during 
my last sojourn on the Gold Coast. The skins all came from 
Denkera, and were in very good preservation. They had not 
been before brought to Cape Coast, and are said to be rare. 
I could not obtain much information as to their habits. 
Aubinn, who brought me the skins, affirms that they are 
found in rocky forest-grounds, generally in the neighbourhood 
of streams, that they build amongst rocks, and that they 
feed on fresh-water shell-fish, snails, and reptiles. This state¬ 
ment, however, I cannot vouch for personally. 
The young bird and the egg here figured along with the 
adult (Plate II.) were procured by Mr. Aubinn in Denkera, 
and are now in the British Museum. 
126. Hyphantornis castaneofusca (Less.): Sharpe, p. 59. 
Very common in Fan tee, especially round Cape Coast, 
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