Birds of Southern Cameroon. 491 



exactly like the young of Tympanistria tympardstria (Nos. 

 3114 and 3115) mentioned above, but the outermost primaiy 

 is not narrowed ; it is of a lighter brown above, and has less 

 white beneath^ so I think it belongs to this species. 



This is the commonest Odu and one of the most fearless 

 of birds, coming boldly about villages and on paths to pick 

 up its food, its dull coloration making it often unnoticed 

 as it ualks on the ground or perches on a decaying log or 

 stick. Its call consists of a succession of notes uttered in a 

 very low and feeble tone, begun in a slow and halting manner 

 and aiterwards more rapid, as if the poor bird was at first 

 choked with grief, but became more cheerful as it went on. 

 This sound seems to come from far away, though the bird 

 may be sitting, unnoticed, on a twig or log only a few yards 

 off. While in the act of lettering its notes^ it keeps its bill 

 pointed downwards and held near its crop. 



In this species the rectrices are twelve in number and the 

 wing is eutaxic. 



GUTTERA PLUMIFERA. [Mvcm.] 



Sharpe, Ibis, 1904, p. 94; 1907, p. 418. 



Nos. 446.2, 4465-6, & 4179, chicks. Eitye, R. Ja, xVov, 

 1910. 



These chicks have two parallel white stripes running dow;> 

 the sides of the back ; between the stripes the down is black ; 

 on the sides of the body outside the stripes it is brown. The 

 head has a complicated but symmetrical pattern of light 

 yellowish-brown and black stripes. These stripes on the 

 head shew very plainly on the inside of the skin when it is 

 turned back ; and especially the black stripe running back 

 from the forehead, where the crest of the adult would be, is 

 seen to be composed of dense down-feathers different irom 

 the rest. Small yellow lappets of skin hang from the gape 

 on either side. 



These chicks were kept alive along with some ducklings 

 (see above) for a few days, but died one by one. Their most 

 interesting characteristic was the way in which the feeding- 

 instinct was excited by imitation. The ducklings paid no 



