^2 



BIRD GALLERV. 



magnificent whole. It will be noted that the male of this species is 

 without the tassel-like bunch of bristles on the breast characteristic 

 of the males of the other species. 

 [Case 10.] q^jjg Guinea- Fowl, including five genera, are the representatives of 

 the Asiatic Pheasants in Africa, and form an intermediate link between 

 the latter and the Turkeys of America. In all the species the plumage 

 of the male and female is alike. 



A very rare West African form is the Turkey-like Guinea-Fowl 

 {Agelastes meleagrides) (75), which ranges from Liberia to Gaboon. 



The Helmeted Guinea-Fovvls {Numida) (77) include eight species, 

 one of which {N. meleagris) (76) is the wild ancestor of our domestic 

 breed. Their chief characteristics are the naked head surmounted by 

 a more or less elevated bony helmet, the wattles on each side of the 

 gape, and the blackish plumage spotted with white. As a rule they are 

 found in flocks in the scrubby brush. Their flight is comparatively 

 feeble, but they can run very rapidly, and if hard-pressed take refuge 

 among the lower branches of any convenient bush or tree, also roosting 

 there at night. 



The Crested Guinea-Fowls [Guttera), of which several kinds are 

 known, may be distinguished from the last group by their black 

 crested head, pale blue-spotted plumage, and the white band along the 

 wing. An example of these will be found in the Curly-crested Guinea- 

 Fowl (G. cristata) (78) from East Africa. 



Of the fifth genus the Vulturine Guinea-Fowl (Acryllium vul- 

 turinuni) (80) is the sole representative. This very handsome bird, 

 with its brightly coloured hackles and long pointed tail, is a native of 

 East Africa. The legs of the male bear blunt knobs, which in some 

 examples number as many as five. 

 C°8e*l ^^^ Peafowl [Pavo] are the largest and most magnificently coloured 

 birds of the group. Only two species are known, the common 

 Peafowl [P. cristatus) (81), found throughout India, Assam, and 

 Ceylon ; and the Burmese Peafowl (P. muticus) (82), from the Indo- 

 Chinese countries, the Malay Peninsula, and Java. The tail, composed 

 of 20 feathers, is long, but entirely hidden by the upper tail-coverts 

 which are enormously developed in the male, and form the '' train." 

 The common Peafowl frequents broken and jungly ground, where 

 good cover and water are to be found, and is seldom met with at 

 elevations exceeding 2000 to 3000 feet. It prefers the neighbourhood 

 of cultivated fields, and, where numerous, does much harm to 

 cultivation. At night the male and his harem, consisting of four 

 or five females, roost on the lower branches of the highest trees. 

 Oase 10.] Intermediate between the Pheasants and Peafowl is a beautiful 

 group known as the Peacock-Pheasants (PolypUctron). The dense 



