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Dr. Bernard E. Potter,



and gradually these most desirable birds became known to avicul¬

ture. To-day they can be seen in any Zoo. of any size, as they

are frequently imported.


Mr. J. C. Parr was probably the first to breed the Vulturine

Guinea-fowl. In August, 1884, a bird in his possession laid a clutch

of six eggs, which she endeavoured to hatch, but died after sitting

for a week. The eggs were put under a hen, and five nestlings

resulted. One of these, which had died on October 15th, was

exhibited by Dr. Sclater at a meeting of the Zoological Society ; it

is probably the specimen recorded in the British Museum Catalogue

as having been received from Dr. Sclater. The Vulturine Guinea-

fowl also breeds with the common species (Numicla meleagris ) : a

hybrid between these was presented to the Zoo, by Mr. J. M.

Comely on November 25th, 1878.


The head of a vulture on the body of a game bird would

arrest the attention of the most unobservant; but in spite of its

quaint appearance the present species is very beautiful. The small

bare head is delicately set on the slender neck; the throat and

shoulders are adorned with long pointed hackles ; the tail is elon¬

gated and somewhat pointed. The bright scarlet eye is charmingly

set off by the cobalt-blue neck; the plumage is black or blackish,

minutely seeded over with white dots. The Vulturine Guinea-fowl

is a peaceful inhabitant of the aviary, and easily acclimatised.


This species occasionally harbours parasites. The nematode

worm (Ascaris cornelyi ) was first known from an individual taken

from the small intestine of one of these birds.



BIRDS IN FLANDERS.


By Dr. Bernard E. Potter

(Field Ambulance B.E.F.)


Although our unit has been here since January, I have

received regularly each number of the Avicultural Magazine. In

the April one, I think, was a note of swallows having been seen

north of Ypres as early as the 25th of March. The place men¬

tioned I believe was Lizerne. Like several other places mentioned

in the official maps for our use in this campaign, Lizerne does not



