THE HELMETED GUINEA-FOWLS 93 



Adult. — Easily recognised by the shape of the bony hehiiet, 

 which, though slightly curved backwards as in N. co7'j?iata, is 

 more elevated^ about half the breadth, and nearly cylindrical 

 (height, 2'i inches; length, 0*55); the white spotted plumage 

 continuous ahnost to the base of the bare neck, only a few feathers 

 at the base of the neck showing traces of bars. Naked skin 

 of face clear blue, shading into purplish-blue on the neck ; 

 wattles blue, with scarlet tips. Total length, 2 1 "5 inches ; 

 wing, 10-4; tai], 5'8; tarsus, 27; middle toe (with claw), 

 24. 



Eange. — Wes'.ern S3uth Africa; Great Namaqua-land, 

 Damara-land, and Mossamedes. 



HaMts. — Mr. Andersson tells us that this Guinea-Fowl is 

 the commonest Game-Bird in Damara and Great Namaqua 

 Lands, being most abundant from the Orange River in the 

 south to the Okavango in the north of those countries; and 

 it is also very common in the lake regions. It is a highly 

 gregarious bird, especially during the dry season, when it is not 

 uncommonly found in flocks of several hundred individuals ; 

 and on one occasion he s:iw upwards of a thousand collected 

 in one spot, which was one of the prettiest sights he had 

 the good fortune to witness. These wonderful congrega- 

 tions usually occur in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 waters of small extent ; and it is quite evident that were such 

 a mass of birds to make a simultaneous rush for the precious 

 liquid, there would be much confusion, and comparatively few 

 would be enabled to have their fill. But on the contrary they 

 go to work most economically and judiciously, and it is very 

 interesting to watch the process. The first comers enter the 



doubtedly typical N. cormita, while the size of the white spots on the 

 chest and breast varies in individuals and is unimportant. Ilerr E. Fleck 

 (J. f. O. 1884, p. 390) figures the head of N. papulosa, Reichcnow, and 

 compares it with N. reichcnowi^ Grant, but the head figured by him as 

 N. 7-eichenoivi is that of N. mitrata, a very different species. This may 

 be seen at a gbnce by the size and shape of the helmet and blue red-tipped 

 wattles. In N. rsicheiioiL'i the wattles are eiUi)cly red. 



