TIIE VULTURINE GUINEA-FOWLS. IO! 
continuous to the base of the bare neck, but the crest ¢s composed 
Of thin straight feathers srowing upwards, and the wattles are 
much larger (about half an inch in length). The naked skin 
on the head and neck probably bluish-purple, but no record of 
the colour of the soft parts taken from freshly-killed specimens 
is to be found. Total length, 20 inches ; wing, 9°6 ; tail, 4°53 
tarsus, 3°0; middle toe (with claw), 2°5, 
Range.—West Africa, extending from Cape Lopez to Loango. 
Recently recorded from the Cameroons. 
Habits.—I'rom the notes given by Mr. Du Chaillu, the original 
discoverer of this species, our sole information respecting the 
habits of this bird is derived. He writes :—“This bird is not 
found in the forests near the sea-shore, but is first met with, as I 
afterwards ascertained, about fifty miles east of Sangatanga, It 
is very shy, but marches in large flocks through the woods, where 
the traveller hears its loud voice. It utters a kind of ‘quack,’ 
hoarse and discordant, like the voices of other Guinea-Fowls. 
It avoids the path left by travellers; but its own tracks are met 
everywhere in the woods it frequents, as the flock scratch and 
tear up the ground wherever they stop. It is strong of wing, 
and sleeps by night on the tops of high trees, a flock generally 
roosting together on the same tree. When surprised by the 
hunter, they do not fly in a body, but scatter in every direction. 
Thus it is a difficult bird to get, and the natives do not oftey 
get a shot at it.” 
THE VULTURINE GUINEA-FOWLS. GENUS ACRYLLIUM, 
Acryllium, Gray, List Gen. Birds, p. 61 (1 840). 
Type, A. vulturinum (Hardw.). 
Head and upper part of neck naked, except a horse-shoe 
shaped band of feathers extending from the ear-coverts ron 
the nape. Plumage of neck, chest, and mantle developed into 
long, pointe? hackles, 
