BIBDS OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA COLONY 131 



Upper parts rufous brown coarsely vermiculated with blackish, 

 each feather with a large subterminal V-shaped blackish band, and 

 tipped with pale buff; remiges brown edged with white for the 

 whole length of the feathers on the outer web and distally on the 

 inner one, the outer web mottled with buff; underparts grayish buff 

 somewhat mottled anteriorly. 



3. Iimnature plumage. — This plumage is acquired by a postjuvenal 

 molt which is complete except for the head, which still retains its 

 original covering of short, stiff natal down. 



It is in tliis stage that the bird first acquires the spotted plumage. 

 The mantle and interscapulars are dark brown spotted with white,^ 

 each spot surrounded by a black line ; wings, back, rump, upper tail 

 coverts, and tail barred with buft'y and blackish on a brown back- 

 ground ; chin and upper throat almost bare, a few brownish feathers 

 present; lower throat and upper breast feathers brownish black 

 with white shaft stripes; lower breast, sides, flanks, and thighs 

 spotted with white ; abdomen dark buffy gray. 



4. Subadult ylmnage. — With the assumption of this plumage the 

 head becomes entirely bare except for a few plumulaceous feathers 

 around the ear openings; the plumage becomes like the well-known 

 adult type, except that the feathers of the lower throat with white 

 shaft stripes are retained from the immature plumage, and that the 

 upper breast is spotted like the rest of the under parts, but the spots 

 are smaller. 



5. Adult plumage. — Similar to the preceding, but the lower throat, 

 nape, and upper breast finely barred with black and white, not 

 spotted. 



Aside from the specimens taken, this guinea fowl was observed at 

 the following localities: Tharaka district, August 12-13, 40 seen; 

 Tana River, August 14-2G, 200 or more noted ; Thika River, August 

 27, 25 ; west of the Ithanga Hills, August 28, 20 seen ; near Athi 

 River, August 31, about 50 birds. 



NUMIDA MELEAGRIS (Linnaeus) 



The tufted guina fowl is represented in the present collection by 

 16 specimens belonging to three races. In studying the subspecific 

 variations of this bird, an additional series of 9 individuals was 

 assembled, makng 25 in all. My conclusions agree with those 

 reached by Sclater ^^ so far as the material examined goes. No 

 specimens of Dubois' Congo form inei-mis have been studied and I 

 can not therefore pass judgment on that form. The following 

 eastern races are valid: 



=" Syst. Avium Ethiop., 1024, pp. 97-98. 

 ^312—30 10 



