130 BULLETIN 15 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



in intermedia. As mentioned above, birds from the region between 

 Dodoma and Kilosa are intermediate in character between mitrata 

 and reichenowi, but nearer to the first named, to which race I have 

 referred them. However, the birds from this region may represent 

 what Keichenow meant by uhehensis. Doctor Van Someren^^ lists 

 a doubtful specimen of uhehensis from Makindo (south of Handini) 

 Tanganyika Territory, which is probably mitrata., as are also three 

 birds from Mkaraji, Uluguru Mountains (recorded by me«^ as 

 uhehensis). 



Nvmida ansorgei is recognized as a species by Van Someren,^° but 

 Hartert®^ writes that the differences supposed to characterize this 

 form do exist, but are probably individual. 



The two main characters used in subspecific taxonomies of guinea 

 fowl are size and shape of the helmet, and the color of the wattles. 

 Within rather large limits the helmet varies with age and sex and 

 consequently must be used with caution. The wattles have usually 

 been considered more constant, but Schuster ^^ has shown that fresh 

 specimens vary in this respect more than the dried skins would indi- 

 cate. A female from Kilosa in the Museum of Comparative Zoologj' 

 is unusual in this respect ; it has the right wattle small, bluntly pyra- 

 midal in shape, and entirely red (as in 7'eichenoivi) , and the left 

 one long, narrow, and basally blue (as in mitrata). 



The plumage changes of this species are rather curious in that 

 there seem to be five stages, quite a large number for a gallinaceous 

 bird. 



1. Natal down. — Not seen, but described by Van Someren ®^ as 

 '" * * * pale buff below and light orange brown above, slightly 

 paler on the back. The head and dorsum are striped with blackish 

 brown, while the flanks and wings are spotted with this color." 



2. Juvenal flinyiage. — Several specimens in various stages of post- 

 juvenal molt examined indicate that in first feathering the bird is 

 remarkable in that natal down is not replaced on the top of the head, 

 which is light cinnamon tawny (Van Someren's orange brown) with 

 a wide central, lengthwise patch, and two lateral stripes of blackish 

 brown above each eye. Most birds have a complete postnatal molt, 

 but the present species is an exception. 



In this plumage typical mitrata is slightly more rufous than 

 reichenoioi. 



The bony helmet is very small and blunt, but definitely noticeable 

 by the time the postjuvenal molt is reached. 



««Nov. Zool., vol. 29, 1922, p. 25. 



^Ibis, 1928, p. 76. 



"" Joura. E. Afr. and Uganda Nat. Hist. Soc, 1925, p. 7. 



M Nov. Zool., vol. 34, 1927, p. 31. 



•^^Joiiin. f. Ornith., 1926, p. 163. 



