THE CRESTED GUINEA-FOWLS. 99 
Adult.— Distinguished from the last species, G. cristata, in hay- 
ing the black collar round the base of the neck extended over the 
whole chest, which is usually more or less washed with chest- 
nut. Naked skin on the sides of the head and neck dark 
purple, black round the eye, leaden-grey on the throat, and 
yellowish-grey round the back of the neck.* Total length, 20 
inches; wing, 10°4; tail, 51; tarsus, 3°1; middle toe (with 
claw), 2°7. 
Range,—South Africa, extending from Natal and Zulu-land to 
the Zambesi at least as far west as the Victoria Falls, and per- 
haps westwards to Benguela [see Bocage, J. Ac. Lisb. No. xii. 
». 275 (1871)], but this requires confirmation. 
Habits.— Mr. Ayres tells us that he met with these fine 
Guinea-Iowls in the month of July at Durban, Natal, where 
they were being hawked about the town by Kafir hunters as 
birds for the table, the flesh being most uncommonly delicate 
and good. They frequent the dense bush immediately on 
the sea range, and are difficult to get. The best method is 
with dogs accustomed to hunt the bush, as the birds, when 
chased, take to the trees, and a good dog will bark till his 
master manages with much trouble to get to the spot through 
brambles, thorny bushes, and nettles innumerable, and then, if 
due care is taken to approach without noise, the birds may be 
potted from the tree, a flying shot being totally out of the ques- 
tion. ‘This species appears to be very local, and we gather 
from the meagre notes at our disposal that its habits are 
extremely similar to those of the Helmeted Guinea-Fowls, to 
which it is closely related. 
* The exact colours of the naked skin on the sides of the head and neck 
have not been satisfactorily ascertained in this species. The throat and 
fore-neck are said by Mr. Elliot to be bright red, the sides and back of 
neck light blue. It is quite possible that the colours become brighter in 
the breeding-season or vary with age, being brightest in the adults, The 
colours of these parts should be carefully noted as soon as the birds have 
been shot, for they rapidly change after death. It would be easy for 
sportsmen in South Africa to settle this point, which is one of considerable 
interest to ornithologists. 
H 
