THE VULTURINE GUINEA-FOWLS. lOl 



continuous to the base of the bare neck, but the crest is composed 

 of thin straight feathers growi?ig upwards^ and the wattles are 

 much larger (about half an inch in length). The naked skin 

 on the head and neck probably bluish-purple, but no record of 

 the colour of the soft parts taken from freshly-killed specimens 

 is to be found. Total length, 20 inches ; wing, 9'6 ; tail, 4*5 ; 

 tarsus, 3*o; middle toe (with claw), 2*5. 



Range. — West Africa, extending from Cape Lopez to Loango. 

 Recently recorded from the Cameroons. 



Habits. — From the notes given by Mr. Du Chaillu, the original 

 discoverer of this species, our sole information respecting the 

 habits of this bird is derived. He writes: — "This bird is not 

 found in the forests near the sea-shore, but is first met with, as I 

 afterwards ascertained, about fifty miles east of Sangatanga. It 

 is very shy, but marches in large flocks through the woods, where 

 the traveller hears its loud voice. It utters a kind of ' quack,' 

 hoarse and discordant, like the voices of other Guinea-Fowls. 

 It avoids the path left by travellers; but its own tracks aie met 

 everywhere in the woods it frequents, as the flock scratch and 

 tear up the ground wherever they stop. It is strong of wing, 

 and sleeps by night on the tops of high trees, a flock generally 

 roosting together on the same tree. When surprised by the 

 hunter, they do not fly in a body, but scatter in every direction. 

 Thus it is a difficult bird to get, and the natives do not often 

 get a shot at it." 



THE VULTURINE GUINEA-FOWLS. GENUS ACRVr.LIUM. 



Acrylliiim^ Gray, List Gen. Birds, p. 61 (1840). 



Type, A. vulturifiuni (Hardw.). 



Head and upper part of neck naked, except a horse-shoe 

 shaped band of feathers extending from the ear-cove;ts round 

 the ?iape. Plumage of neck, chest, and mantle developed into 

 iong, poifited hackles^ 



