14 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



with light blue spots, and there are chestnut markings 

 on the breast. 



The crested guinea-fowl is never found associated 

 in the large flocks characteristic of its crowned relative. 

 It is of most retiring habits, and small troops of only 

 six or seven individuals are met with in mountainous 

 or thickly bushed country. Its range extends from 

 Natal and Amatongaland, where it used to be pretty 

 numerous on the top of the Lebombo Hills, through 

 the coast lands of Portuguese East Africa. Several 

 other allied forms are described from different parts of 

 Africa. 



THE VULTURINE GUINEA-FOWL is an inhabitant of 

 the eastern part of Africa. It is a strikingly handsome 

 bird, the head bare of feathers, the neck, wings, and 

 flanks being coloured a bright blue. 



THE AFRICAN PHEASANTS. These birds (about equal 

 in size to English partridges) are distinguished by their 

 throats being bare of feathers, and generally brightly 

 coloured. They are usually great runners, and often 

 most difficult to flush, so that they are not very sporting 

 birds. They are found in more or less thickly bushed or 

 forested country, and at no great distance from water. 

 There are about nine species recognized in Africa, of 

 which three are found south of the Zambezi. Of these 

 three, two are known respectively as the northern and 

 the southern red-necked pheasants ; both have the 

 bare skin round the eye, and on the throat bright red. 

 The former, which is distributed between about 15 

 and 25 south latitude, has reddish black legs, and in 

 both species the males have strong and sharp spurs. 



The food of the former consists of insects, bulbs, 

 berries, and grass seeds, which latter I have seen indi- 

 viduals jumping up to pick. The bird is very fond of 



