240 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



The flesh of the young Guinea-fowl is very white, 

 tender, and well flavoured, but that of the old birds is 

 far from tempting. 



The eggs of the wild Guinea-fowls are often hatched 

 under domestic Fowls, and the young are not difficult to 

 rear ; but as they grow their propensity for roosting on 

 high trees is rapidly developed, much to the distress of 

 their foster-mother, which is usually unable to follow 

 them to their lofty perch. 



I have also known young chicks of this species suc- 

 cessfully reared when captured in a wild state ; but 1 

 have never known an instance of one of these birds, when 

 tamed, having reared a brood of its own young. 



The nests of this species consist of slight rounded 

 depressions in the ground, and may be found from the 

 end of December to May, containing from fifteen to 

 twenty eggs, of a bufly-white or pale-buff" colour, some- 

 times obscurely speckled with pale grey. 



[I have not seen a specimen of J;be Damara-Land Guinea- 

 fowl; and as Mr. Andersson appears to have been doubtful 

 to what species it belonged, I forwarded a copy of a full descrip- 

 tion of it, contained in his MS. notes, to Mr. G. R. Gray, 

 requesting bis opinion as to the species to which the description 

 appHed. Mr. Gray has been so good as to write me in reply as 

 follows : — " The description which you have sent me seems to 

 agree with Numida cornuta, !No. 9630 of my Hand-list." This 

 identification is confirmed by Mr. Layard [loc. cit.). — Ed.] 



