238 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAJSD. 



GALLIN-ai. 



MELEAGRID^*. 



285. Niunida comuta, Finsoh & Hartl. Cape Guinea-fowl. 



Nmnida mitrata, Layard's Cat. No. 519. 



Nmnida comuta, Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, p. 569. 

 „ „ Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 96.30. 



This Guinea-fowl is the commonest game bird in 

 Damara and Great Namaqua Land, being most abun- 

 dant from the Orange River in the south to the Okavango 

 in the north of those countries ; and it is also very com- 

 mon in the Lake-regions. It is a highly gregarious bird, 

 especially during the dry season, when it is not uncom- 

 monly found in flocks of several hundred individuals ; 

 and on one occasion I saw upwards of a thousand 

 collected in one spot, which was one of the prettiest 

 sights I have had the good fortune to witness. These 

 wonderful congregations usually occur in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of waters of small extent ; and it is quite 

 evident that were such a mass of birds to make a simul- 

 taneous rush for the precious liquid, there would be 

 much confusion, and comparatively few would be enabled 

 to have their fill. But, on the contrary, they go to work 

 most economically and judiciously, and it is very interest- 

 ing to watch the process. The first comers enter the 

 well or hole, as the case may be, and, rapidly and dexter- 



* [I have followed Doctors Finscli and Hartlaub (Vogel Ost-Afrika's, 

 p. 568) in treating the Meleagridse as a distinct family, and not merely as a 

 subfamily of the Phasianidee. — Ed.] 



