|Case 10. } 
(Central 
Case. | 
Case 10.] 
59 BIRD GALLERY. 
magnificent whole. It will be noted that the male of this species is 
without the tassel-like bunch of bristles on the breast characteristic 
of the males of the other species. . 
The Guinea-Fowl, including five genera, are the representatives of 
the Asiatic Pheasants in Africa, and form an intermediate link between 
the latter and the Turkeys of America. In all the species the plumage 
of the male and female is alike. 
A very rare West African form is the Turkey-like Guinea-Fowl 
(Agelastes meleagrides) (15), which ranges from Liberia to Gaboon. 
The Helmeted Guinea-Fowls (Numida) (11) include eight species, 
one of which (N. meleagris) (16) is the wild ancestor of our domestic 
breed. Their chief characteristics are the naked head surmounted by 
a more or less elevated bony helmet, the wattles on each side of the 
gape, and the blackish plumage spotted with white. As a rule they are 
found in flocks in the serubby brush. Their flight is comparatively 
feeble, but they can run very rapidly, and if hard-pressed take refuge 
among the lower branches of any convenient bush or tree, also roosting 
there at night. 
The Crested Guinea-Fowls (Guttera), of which several kinds are 
known, may be distinguished from the last group by their black 
crested head, pale blue-spotted plumage, and the white band along the 
wing. An example of these will be found in the Curly-crested Guinea- 
Fowl (G. cristata) (18) from East Africa. 
Of the fifth genus the Vulturine Guinea-Fowl (Acryllium vul- 
turinum) (80) is the sole representative. This very handsome bird, 
with its brightly coloured hackles and long pointed tail, is a native of 
East Africa, The legs of the male bear blunt knobs, which in some 
examples number as many as five. 
The Peafowl (Pavo) are the largest and most magnificently coloured 
birds of the group. Only two species are known, the common 
Peafowl (P. cristatus) (81), found throughout India, Assam, and 
Ceylon; and the Burmese Peafowl (P. muticus) (82), from the Indo- 
Chinese countries, the Malay Peninsula, and Java. The tail, composed 
of 20 feathers, is long, but entirely hidden by the upper tail-coverts 
which are enormously developed in the male, and form the “ train.” 
The common Peafowl frequents broken and jungly ground, where 
good cover and water are to be found, and is seldom met with at 
elevations exceeding 2000 to 3000 feet. It prefers the neighbourhood 
of cultivated fields, and, where numerous, does much harm to 
cultivation. At night the male and his harem, consisting of four 
or five females, roost on the lower branches of the highest trees. 
Intermediate between the Pheasants and Peafowl is a beautiful 
group known as the Peacock-Pheasants (Polyplectron). The dense 
