88 Allen's naturalists library. 



Numida rendalUi, Ogilby, P. Z. S. 1835, p. 106; Fraser, Zool. 



Typ. pi. 62 (1841-2). 

 Numida viaculipennis, Swains. B. W. Afr. ii. p. 226 (1837). 

 Ninnida marchei, Oustal. Ann. Sci. Nat. (6) xiii. Art. i. bis 

 (1882) ; id. N. Arch. Mus. (2) viii. p. 305, pi. xiv. (1885). 



^^^It.— Easily distinguished from all the following species, 

 except N. zechi, by the wide collar of vinous-grey covering the 

 upper-part of the mantle and chest. Naked skin on sides of 

 face and neck, chin and wattles red ; rest of neck bluish. Total 

 length, 25 inches; wing, 10-5; tail, 6; tarsus, 2-8; middle toe 

 (with claw), 2-2. 



Eange. — West Africa, extending from Senegambia southwards 

 through Ashantee to Gaboon ; also met with in the Cape Verde 

 Islands, Annobon, and St. Thomas. 



HaMts. — Writing of this bird, which was introduced into the 

 Island of Jamaica more than two hundred years ago, Mr. 

 Gosse says : — " In a country whose genial climate so closely 

 resembled its own, and which abounded with dense and 

 tangled thickets, the well-known wandering propensities ot 

 the Guinea-Fowl would, no doubt, cause it to become wild 

 very soon after its introduction. It was abundant in Jamaica, 

 as a wild bird, 150 years ago, for Falconer mentions it among 

 the wild game, in his amusing ' Adventures.' I shall confine 

 myself to a few notes of its present habits, which are, in all 

 probability, those of its original condition. 



"The Guinea-Fowl make themselves only too familiar to the 

 settlers by their depredations in the provision-grounds. In the 

 cooler months of the year they come in numerous coveys from 

 the woods, and, scattering themselves in the grounds at early 

 dawn, scratch up the yams and cocoes. A large hole is dug 

 by their vigorous feet in very short time, and the tubers ex- 

 posed, which are then pecked away, so as to be almost 

 destroyed, and quite spoiled. A little later, when the planting 

 season begins, they do still greater damage, by digging up and 



