GUINEA-FOWLS. 



433 



has a pair of short stout spurs. The true guinea-fowls, including six species with 

 naked heads covered on the top with a more or less elevated bony helmet, a 

 pair of wattles at the angles of the gape, and black, white-spotted plumage, are 

 found all over Africa, except the more northern parts, as well as Madagascar. 

 The common species (Numida meleagris) is also a native of West Africa, 

 ranging from Senegambia to the Gabun, and may be distinguished by having 



CRESTED AND COMMON GUINEA-FOWLS (| nat. size). 



a wide vinous grey collar covering the upper-part of the mantle and chest. The 

 bare skin on the sides of the face, neck, and chin, as well as the wattles 

 are red, and the rest of the neck bluish. It is shown in the right-hand figure of 

 the accompanying woodcut. Like the rest of its kind it is gregarious, often collect- 

 ing in large flocks, particularly on the grass covered plains bordering the forest. 

 It is shy and difficult to approach, always preferring to escape by running, in 

 which respect it has few equals. The Abyssinian guinea-fowl (N. ptilorhyncha), 

 which extends into Equatorial Africa, is peculiar in having a bunch of horny 

 VOL. iv. 28 



