THE CRESTED GUINEA- FOWLS. 99 



Adult. — Distinguished from the last s\)Cq\q^,G. en's fa/a, in hav- 

 ing the black collar round the base of the neck extended over the 

 ivhole chesty which is usually more or less washed with chest- 

 nut. Naked skin on the sides of the head and neck dark 

 purple, black round the eye, leaden-grey on the throat, and 

 yellowish-grey round the back of the neck.* Total length, 20 

 inches; wing, 10-4; tail, 5'i ; tarsus, 3-1; middle toe (with 

 claw), 27. 



Range. — South Africa, extending from Natal and Zulu-land to 

 the Zambesi at least as far west as the Victoria Falls, and per- 

 haps westwards to Benguela [see Bocage, J. Ac. Lisb. No. xii. 

 p. 275 (187 1)], but this requires confirmation. 



Habits. — Mr. Ayres tells us that he met with these fine 

 Guinea-Fowls in the month of July at Durban, Natal, where 

 they were being hawked about the town by Kafir hunters as 

 birds for the table, the flesh being most uncommonly delicate 

 and good. They frequent the dense bush immediately on 

 the sea range, and are difficult to get. The best method is 

 with dogs accustomed to hunt the bush, as the birds, when 

 chased, take to the trees, and a good dog will bark till his 

 master manages with much trouble to get to the spot through 

 brambles, thorny bushes, and nettles innumerable, and then, if 

 due care is taken to approach without noise, the birds may be 

 potted from the tree, a flying shot being totally out of the ques- 

 tion. This species appears to be very local, and we gather 

 from the meagre notes at our disposal that its habits are 

 extremely similar to those of the Helmeted Guinea-Fowls, to 

 which it is closely related. 



* The exact colours of the naked skin on the sides of the head and neck 

 have not been satisfactorily ascertained in this species. The throat and 

 fore-neck are said by Mr. Elliot to be bright red, the sides and back of 

 neck light blue. It is quite possible that the colours become brighter in 

 the breeding-season or vary with age, being brightest in the adults. The 

 colours of these parts should be carefully noted as soon as the birds have 

 been shot, for they rapidly change after death. It would be easy for 

 sportsmen in South Africa to settle this point, which is one of considerable 

 interest to ornithologists. 



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