THE HELMETED GUINEA-FOWLS. 



95 



length, 20 inches ; wing, 10*5 ; tail, 6*2 ; tarsus, 3*2 ; middle 

 toe (with claw), 26. 



Range. — East Africa, extending northwards from the Zam- 

 besi. It is also found in the Comoro Islands, Madagascar, 

 Rodriguez, and other islands into which it has probably been 

 introduced. 



Habits. — This species is pretty generally distributed all over 

 Madagascar up to Beforona, but is most numerous along the 

 coast-line, where they may be found in the early morning 

 feeding among the ferns and brushwood on the outskirts of 

 the forests, {/^oc/i and £. Newton^ 



At Foule Point, according to Dr. Roch, this species is very 

 common, and he obtained eggs in November, several coveys 

 being observed between there and Nossi-be. The natives 

 often hunt them with dogs, and he was told that the birds, 

 while endeavouring to conceal themselves from the latter, will 

 allow themselves to be taken in the hand, rather than fly or 

 run into the open. When "treed," they will remain with their 

 long necks stretched out in stupid astonishment, as long as the 

 dogs continue yelping underneath, paying no regard to their 

 dangerous pursuers, and thus affording an easy shot to the 

 native sportsman. 



Eggs. — Much like those of the Common Guinea-Fowl, but 

 the shells are marked nearly all over with small blotches and 

 spots of pale light red or greyish-red. Average measurements 

 of two eggs only, 1-9 by 1*4 inch. 



VIII. THE ABYSSINIAN HELMETED GUINEA-FOWL. NUMIDA 

 PTILORHYNCHA. 



Numida ptylorhyncha^ Licht.; Less. Traite d'Orn. p. 498 (1831). 



Niimida ptilorhyncha,^\x^^^.^.\^\lh€i\^\^ p. 184 (1835-40); 

 Gray, Gen. Birds, iii. p. 501, pi. 128 (1845); Elliot, 

 Monogr. Phasian. ii. pi. 42 (1872); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. 

 B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 379 (1893). 



