168 CLASS AVES. 



branes, which are followed by three rings of the lower larynx, 

 from which the bronchise depend. These last are formed of 

 flat semi -rings, which diminish gradually in length. 



Of the Crested Pintado {N. Ciistata), Buffon makes men- 

 tion, but in vague terms. M. Temminck finds fault with the 

 term crested, (or, as Sonnini has called the bird in French, 

 Peintade a Crete,) because he thinks it might lead to the 

 supposition that the bird had a crest or fleshy comb like the 

 cock, whereas it bears a tuft of feathers. But surely this is 

 something like hypercriticism, when we recollect how many 

 birds of different orders bear this denomination, merely from 

 the tufts of feathers with which their heads are crowned. 

 This naturalist gives it the name of Comal, which he tells us 

 is its specific appellation in its native country. 



It is smaller than the Meleagris ; the bill is horn colour, 

 surmounted by a bluish cere, in which are placed the nos- 

 trils. It has no guttural caruncles, but a small appendage 

 of skin, or a longitudinal fold, is observable on each side of 

 the lower mandible. The throat, top of the neck, and occi- 

 put are covered with a naked skin, which on the sides is of a 

 deep blue, and on the hinder part of the neck ; it becomes 

 greyish-blue around the ears, and assumes a tint of crimson- 

 red on all the anterior part of the neck. 



The Crested Pintado inhabits the burning regions of 

 Africa ; and in the country of the Great Namaquois, and in 

 the interior of the lands of Guinea these birds live in vast 

 flocks of some hundreds, composed of many united broods. 

 They make the deserts re-echo with their discordant and 

 sinister cries. Their piercing cries are most frequently heard 

 towards the rising of the sun, and about the close of day. 

 The manners of these birds are like those of the last and the 

 following species, and they equally feed on all kinds of grains, 

 worms, insects, and berries. 



We have remarked, in writing of the Guinea Pintado, that 



