214 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



those witli bare hoails ami bony helmets, or those with an OL-cijiital feathery patch. There 

 are five or six s|)ecies of the first division, about four of the secotnl, and one of the 

 last. The first lias been se]>arated by some authors under the generic term, (riittera, 

 and are much more graceful birds than tho.se of which the common Guiiiea-bcn, 

 Ninnida vteleagris, is the type. They have a jet-black plumage <lotted over with 

 small bluish-white or light-green spots; the bare skin of the neck is blue or purplish, 

 some having these ])arts iliversitied with Ijright red. Tiie top of the head is covereil 

 with a long, full, black crest, and the primaries are buff. Several sjiecies also have the 

 u]>per part of the breast black, of a more or less e.xtensive .area, sometimes tinted with 

 chestnut. The skin of the neck is full, and forms a pleat or fold beliiml and on the 



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Fui. 101. — Arryllium rii/ruriniim. 



sides. The helmeted Guinea-fowls have the ujipcr ]iart of ilu- head bare, with a bony 

 crest in the centre, varying in size according to the species, and with wattles of differ- 

 ent sha])e and coloi-s jtendant from the angles of the mouth. These birds also have a 

 general black plumage covered with white spots, JV. meleaf/ris also having the upper 

 part of the lireast and back bi-o\vn with a lilac lustre. Two species, ^V^ milrata and 

 Acri/lliiim ridliirhn/m, nrv found in Mailagascar ; the one last-named, and all the other 

 members of the sub-family, are found in various portions of the African continent. 

 They go in large flocks, are very noi.sy, extremely swift of foot, wild and wary. The 

 A- mdturimim is a peculiar as well as a very beautiful bird, with the lower part of 

 the neck, and uj)per portion of the back and breast covered with very long lanceolate 



