202 BIRDS 



the Zambezi display a vast number of bird families. 

 In the absence of ostriches, which are nowhere 

 found, we will commence with the game birds. 

 Of these Numida coronata, the common Guinea- 

 fowl, is very plentiful, as many as thirty being, at 

 times, seen in a pack. Who has not blessed this 

 noble bird, when, hungry from a long day's march, 

 it has redeemed his frugal menu from a vagueness 

 bordering on famine. N. mitrata, the East African 

 variety, is also to be found throughout the Zambezi 

 valley, as also the well-known crested bird {Gutter a 

 eduardi). There is probably no more satisfactory 

 result of a good right and left than that afforded 

 by a brace of guinea-fowl. They present such a 

 fine bold outline as they rise with a thunder of 

 wings from the melon patch or millet field ; but 

 although easily killed, there is no nimbler runner 

 of his size and weight, and if winged he will often 

 succeed in evading capture even by the skilful, 

 fleet-footed native. In addition to the francolins 

 mentioned as occurring in the higher regions, we 

 also find the crested variety {F. sephcena), Shelley's, 

 and Humboldt's. On some parts of the lower 

 river I have seen a specimen of what I believe to 

 have been the double-banded Sand Grouse ; but, 

 if my supposition was correct, this is the only 

 member present of the Pterocletes. 



Coming to the Sturnidae family of the Passeres, 

 with its exquisite jewel-plumaged varieties, we find 

 Verreaux's Glossy Starling, the green- winged Glossy 

 Starling, and Meve's. All these birds are so 

 wonderful in the iridescent sheen of their brilliant 

 polychromatic feathers as to render it difficult to 



