lOi 



common Guinea Fowl, and in this resembles the Num. cristata. The 

 head and upper part of the neck are bare, the fonner covered -vvith a 

 •vi'rinkled scalp-like skin, gathered into a small keel-shaped ridge in 

 the centre, about half an inch in length, and not more than a ąuarter 

 of an inch high. The neck is black, naked principally on the throat 

 and sides, and covered on the back ■vvith glossy black hair, or rather 

 small feathers, -vvith the beards so fine as to be perceptible only upon 

 olose examination, The lower part of the neck and breast are covered 

 ■vvith feathers of a beautiful violet colour ■vvithout spots, clearest on 

 the breast, but ■vvith a bro'vvner hue upon the upper surface. The 

 back, shoulders, and rurap are of the usual bro^vvn colour, speckled 

 thickly ■vvith minute ■vvhite spots, each surrounded ■vvith an intensely 

 black ring, much smaller and more numerous than in the common 

 species, and intermixed ■vvith an infinity of still more minute vvhite 

 points. The greater coverts of the ■vvings and \vhole under surface of 

 the body are black, ■vvith large ■vvhite spots ; the quill feathers spotted 

 to^vpards the shaft, and barred transversely on the lower margin only, 

 and the tail feathers light gray, ■vvith white spots in a black ring, 

 and interspersed with numerous black dots or points. The -vvhite 

 spots of the coverts, ąuills, and belly, are not surrounded by black 

 rings likę those of the back and tail. This appears to be the com- 

 mon species on the banks of the Gambia. x 



Genus Gypogeranus, ///. 



A Secretary in Mr. Rendall's CoUection ofFers some peculiarities, 

 •when compared with the common Cape animal, ■vvhich at first in- 

 duced me to believe that it might be a distinct species, and in this 

 opinion I -vvas in some manner confirmed by the more experienced 

 and concuiTcnt belief of Mr. Gould ; but I confess that a more 

 attentive comparison of specimens Itom both localities has consi- 

 derably shaken my original opinion. I may remark, however, that 

 still greater differences are indicated by Sonnerat in his figure and 

 description of the Secretary of the Philippine Islands, and which, as 

 far as I am a^vvare, has not been noticed by more recent naturalists. 

 Whether or not the Secreiaries of these three localities, the Cape of 

 Good Hope, the Gambia, and the PhiUppines, may eventually tum 

 out to be really distinct, or only varieties of the šame species, mušt 

 be left for future observation ; but it is at least useful to direct the 

 attention of travellers, coUectors, and zoologists to the subject, and 

 "vvith this intention I will here statė the principai marka vvhich appear 

 to distinguish each, giving them provisionally specific names, derived 

 frora the localities ■vvhich they respectively inhabit. 



1. Gyj). Capensis, with the plume of long cervical feathers com- 

 mencing upon the occiput, spreading irregularly over the upper part 

 of the neck, narro'v\' throughout the greater part of their length as if 

 the beard had been cut on each side close into the shaft of the quill, 

 and spreading only at the point. Inhabita the Cape of Good Hope. 



