04 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
well or hole, as the cas2 may be, and, rapidly and dexterously 
taking their fill, they make their exit in a different direction, if 
possible, from that by which they entered ; in the meanwhile, 
the outsiders gradually and evenly approach, and the ring is 
gradually narrowed by a steady progressive movement of the 
whole. <A batch of fresh-comers never attempt to force their 
way amongst those which have previously arrived, but remain 
quietly on the outside of the ring until their turn comes. This 
Guinea-Fowl feeds on grass, seeds, and insects, but chiefly on 
a small bulb, which is also eagerly sought for by all the galli- 
naceous birds. They rest during the heat of the day under 
some mimosa, resuming their wanderings when the greatest 
heat is passed. A flock of these birds is in general easily 
discovered by their sharp, discordant, and metallic cries, some- 
thing like a rapid succession of blows struck upon iron. They 
have many enemies, and seck security at night by roosting in 
tall mimosas. 
Nest.—A slight rounded depression in the ground. 
Egzs.—Tifteen to twenty in number; buffy-white or pale buff 
colour, sometimes obscurely speckled with pale grey. 
VII. PALLAS'S HELMETED GUINEA-FOWL. NUMIDA MITRATA. 
Numida mitrata, Pall. Spic. Zool. i. fasc. iv. p. 18, pl. 3 (1767); 
Elliot, Monogr. Phasian. ii. pl. 41 (1872); Meyer, Vog.- 
Skel. pt. x. pl. 99 (1886); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit 
Mus. Xxil1p..378 (1393); 
Querelea tiarata, Bonap. C. R. xlii. p. 876 (1856). 
Numida tiarata, Hartl. Orn. Madagas. p. 68 (1861). 
Numida reichenowt, Fleck (nec Ogilvie-Grant), J. f. O. 1894, 
Pp. 3909, fig. 
Adult.—Like JV. corvonata, but the bony helmet is much 
smaller and conical in shape (height, o°8 inch; length, o°9). 
Top of the head scarlet; helmet paler; naked skin on sides 
of head and neck blue; wattles blue, tipped with red. Total 
