422 ZOOLOGY. 



The Abyssinian Guinea-fowl is found throughout 

 the country, from the sea-coast itself to an altitude of 

 at least 9,000 feet. These birds keep much to craggy 

 places, especially to rocky valleys, and often remain during 

 the middle of the day on the sides of the steep or preci- 

 pitous hiUs. They feed either in open fields or in woods 

 amongst bushes. Sec, in the morning and evening, and 

 roost at night on high trees, a grove of lofty junipers 

 being frequently selected for that purpose in the highlands. 



Throughout the winter and spring, the Guinea-fowls 

 remain in large flocks, usually of 200 or 300 birds each. 

 These subdivide into smaller flocks to seek food duriug 

 the day, but keep to one general tract of country, and 

 unite again at night. Where not pursued they are not 

 particularly wary, and but little difiiculty is found in 

 getting within gunshot ; but along the line of march of 

 the British army the Guinea-fowl soon became much more 

 watchful, and in places around Annesley Bay where at 

 first many were killed, it became almost impossible after 

 a time to get near the birds, even in cover. 



In July and August the flocks divide into pairs, two 

 or three of which are often found together, and the 

 breeding season commences. At this time the birds never 

 appear to collect into large flocks ; I did not, however, 

 happen to see any of the roosting-places. I shot a 

 female with a fully-formed egg on the 9th of August. The 

 young are probably hatched about the end of August 

 or beginning of September, as they are full-grown by the 

 end of the year. 



The Voice is very similar to that of the common tame 



