Expedition to the Zambesi River. 447 



240. NUMIDA MITKATA Pall. 



Gregarious and well distributed along both banks of the 

 river, a flock not unfrequently numbering over 50 birds. 

 Each favoured locality, even islands in mid-stream, has its 

 own particular party. Towards nightfall they proclaim 

 their presence to the traveller on the river by their well- 

 known cries, as they go to seek their favourite watering spot. 

 Hardly a marpela-field that is woith anything escapes their 

 surveillance, the thick vvoods that generally surround the 

 fields forming strongholds from whence these feathered 

 robbers issue and do much damage to the newly-sown grain. 



Towards evening, while paddling throiigh some lofty gorge 

 of the river, one may often catch glimpses of this Guinea- 

 fowl among the high rocks. Amid these wild surroundings 

 the bird looks indeed handsome, with face and neck of bright 

 cobalt-blue. He is the leader of a flock that lies ensconced 

 aujong the rocks, waiting for his signal to advance down to the 

 water. He has thrown off his habitual stooping gait and stands 

 with helmeted head erect, a feathered warrior, seemingly 

 prepared to dispute every inch of his rocky home. 



But he means to do nothing of the sort. On the approach 

 of footsteps he sounds the ^' alarm,^^ then the " retreat,^' 

 raspy-throated calls that grate upon the ear, and are taken 

 up by all the other members of the flock, when one and all 

 scuttle pell-mell over the ground, now leaping from rock to 

 rock, now spanning some rocky gorge with a clumsy flight. 

 Although there is no order about their retreat, each bird 

 going its own way, yet it is wonderful with what rapidity 

 they reform into flocks and creep back once more to their 

 old spot after the cause of danger has disappeared. As 

 breeding-time approaches (January, the wet season) the 

 birds pair and come together only when feeding. At 

 that time of the year they rely more than ever upon their 

 running-powers, seldom taking flight in the presence of 

 danger, while in the woods it is next to im^DOssible to put 

 them up. In a game-country, where there are extensive 

 stretches of grass-land enclosed by woods, flocks of these 

 birds may be observed towards evening scattered over its 



