104. 



common Guinea Fowl, and in this resembles the Num. cristata. The 

 head and upper part of the neck are bare, the former covered with a 

 wrinkled scalp-like skin, gathered into a small keel-shaped ridge in 

 the centre, about half an inch in length, and not more than a quarter 

 of an inch high. The neck is black, naked principally on the throat 

 and sides, and covered on the back with glossy black hair, or rather 

 small feathers, with the beards so fine as to be perceptible only upon 

 close examination. The lower part of the neck and breast are covered 

 with feathers of a beautiful violet colour without spots, clearest on 

 the breast, but with a bro%vner hue upon the upper surface. The 

 back, shoulders, and rump are of the usual brown colour, speckled 

 thickly with minute white spots, each surrounded with an intensely 

 black ring, much smaller and more numerous than in the common 

 species, and intermixed with an infinity of still more minute white 

 points. The greater coverts of the wings and whole under surface of 

 the body are black, with large white spots ; the quill feathers spotted 

 towards the shaft, and barred transversely on the lower margin only, 

 and the tail feathers light gray, with white spots in a black ring, 

 and interspersed with numerous black dots or points. The white 

 spots of the coverts, quills, and belly, are not surrounded by black 

 rings like those of the back and tail. This appears to be the com- 

 mon species on the banks of the Gambia. ^ 



Genus Gypogeranus, III. 



A Secretary in Mr. Kendall's Collection offers some peculiarities, 

 when compared with the common Cape animal, which at first in- 

 duced me to believe that it might be a distinct species, and in this 

 opinion I was in some manner confirmed by the more experienced 

 and concurrent belief of Mr. Gould; but I confess that a more 

 attentive comparison of specimens from both localities has consi- 

 derably shaken my original opinion. I may remark, however, that 

 still greater differences are indicated by Sonnerat in his figure and 

 description of the Secretary of the Philippine Islands, and which, as 

 far as I am aware, has not been noticed by more recent naturaUsts. 

 Whether or not the Secretaries of these three localities, the Cape of 

 Good Hope, the Gambia, and the Philippines, may eventually turn 

 out to be really distinct, or only varieties of the same species, must 

 be left for future observation ; but it is at least useful to direct the 

 attention of travellers, collectors, and zoologists to the subject, and 

 with this intention I will here state the principal marks which appear 

 to distinguish each, giving them provisionally specific names, derived 

 from the localities which they respectively inhabit. 



1. Gyp. Capensis, with the plume of long cervical feathers com- 

 mencing upon the occiput, spreading irregularly over the upper part 

 of the neck, narrow throughout the greater part of their length as if 

 the beard had been cut on each side close into the shaft of the quill, 

 and spreading only at the point. Inhabits the Cape of Good Hope. 



