90 Allen's naturalist's library. 



appears to be founded on a domestic variety of JV. meleagi-is 

 with abnormally developed wattles (one inch wide and half an 

 inch long), at the angle of the gape. 



N. ineleagj'is has been known to cross with the Common 

 Pea-Fowl (see Hocker, J. f. O. 1870, p. 152). 

 Nest. — Made in the midst of a dense tussock of grass. 

 Eggs. — About twelve are generally laid, and sometimes many 

 more. Pale brownish or yellowish-bufif, the whole shell thickly 

 pitted with reddish-brown. The average measurement is 1*95 

 by 1-55 inch. 



II. zEcn's helmeted guinea-fowl, numida zechi. 

 Niimida zechi^ Reichenow, Orn. Monatsb. iv. p. 76 (1896). 



Most nearly allied to N. mekagris, from which it appears to 

 differ chiefly in having the feathers of the upper-parts pale 

 brown or grey-brown, spotted with darker, black down the 

 middle, and with very fine greyish-white stre.iks ; the white 

 ocelli being apparently wanting. Total length, 18-5 inches; 

 wing, II ; tail, 6-4; tarsus, 3; middle toe and claws, 2 "8. 



Eange. — West Africa ; Togo-land. 



This form is evidently very closely allied to N. mekagris^ 

 and, if really distinct, apparently inhabits the same country. 

 I have, as yet, had no opportunity of examining the type. 



III. the large-helmeted guinea-fowl, numida 



CORONATA. 



Numida coronata^ Gray, List of Birds, pt. iii. Gall. p. 29 (1844); 

 Elliot, Monogr. Phasian. ii. pi. 40 (1872); Ogilvie-Grant, 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 376 (1893) [part.; Eastern South 

 Africa]. 



Adult. — Bony helmet long, high, and compressed (height, 

 1-1-5 inch, length, -9*), sloping obliquely backwards ; feathers 



* The height is measured from the middle of the base to the apex ; the 

 length, at the base of the hehnet. 



