GUINEA-FOWL 47 



The male of the second and last species (the Harlequin 

 Quail C. delegorguii) is easily recognisable by the black 

 throat and bright dark chestnut under parts, relieved by 

 a large black patch in the centre of the breast. The 

 female has the throat white and the lower surface chest- 

 nut mottled with black. 



This species is similar to the Cape Quail in habits. 



A great influx into Mashonaland occurred in 1901 and 

 1902, an account of which was communicated to the 

 Proceedings of the Rhodesia Scientific Association by 

 Mr. Tredgold. 



GUINEA-FOWL. 



Birds of almost equal economic value in South Africa 

 are the Guinea-Fowl (Numida). 



Here, again, we must quote Mr. Thomsen. In the 

 Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union, he 

 gives a succinct account of its usefulness as a locust 

 destroyer, asserting that not only does it devour both 

 the mature insects and voetgangers, but it also scratches 

 up and eats large numbers of their eggs. He instances 

 cases in which he personally observed flocks of wild 

 Guinea-Fowl surrounding and devouring swarms of voet- 

 gangers. The Guinea-Fowl also feeds on roots and weed 

 seeds, besides other insect pests such as termites and the 

 like. 



In its black plumage, speckled all over with round dots 

 of white, naked head and neck and a bony helmet, it is 

 a familiar bird to nearly every Colonial. The Squeakers 

 as the young flying birds of the year are called are 

 void of the helmet, the top of the head being longitu- 

 dinally striped with pale rufous and dull black. The 

 feathers of the body have also a shade of tawny here 

 and there. 



