88 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 
Numida rendallit, Ogilby, P. Z. S$. 1835, p. 106; Fraser, Zool. 
Typ. pl. 62 (1841-2). 
Numida maculipennis, Swains. B. W. Afr. ii. p. 226 (1837). 
Numida marchet, Oustal. Ann, Sci. Nat. (6) xiii. Art. 1. 025 
(1882); id. N. Arch. Mus. (2) viii. p. 305, pl. xiv. (18385). 
Adult.—Easily distinguished from all the following species, 
except JV. zechi, by the zezde collar of vinous-grey covering the 
upper-part of the mantle and chest. Naked skin on sides of 
face and neck, chin and wattles red; rest of neck bluish. Total 
length, 25 inches; wing, 10°5; tail, 6; tarsus, 2°8; middle toe 
(with claw), 2°2. 
Range-—West Africa, extending from Senegambia southwards 
through Ashantee to Gaboon ; also met with in the Cape Verde 
Islands, Annobon, and St. Thomas. 
Habits.— Writing of this bird, which was introduced into the 
Island of Jamaica more than two hundred years ago, Mr. 
Gosse says :—‘“ In a country whose genial climate so closely 
resembled its own, and which abounded with dense and 
tangled thickets, the well-known wandering propensities of 
the Guinea-Fowl would, no doubt, cause it to become wild 
very soon after its introduction. It was abundant in Jamaica, 
as a wild bird, 150 years ago, for Falconer mentions it among 
the wild game, in his amusing ‘ Adventures.’ I shall confine 
myself to a few notes of its present habits, which are, in all 
probability, those of its original condition. 
“The Guinea-Fowl make themselves only too familiar to the 
settlers by their depredations in the provision-grounds. In the 
_ cooler months of the year they come in numerous coveys from 
the woods, and, scattering themselves in the grounds at early 
dawn, scratch up the yams and cocoes. A large hole is dug 
by their vigorous feet in very short time, and the tubers ex- 
posed, which are then pecked away, so as to be almost 
destroyed, and quite spoiled. A little later, when the planting 
season begins, they do still greater damage, by digging up and 
