448 
Mr. B. Alexander —An Ornithological 
surface, some far away in the centre, while others, less bold, 
feed near the confines. They are all peacefully taking their 
evening meal, but the report of a gun will send them hurrying 
towards the nearest cover, affording one an opportunity of 
observing the wonderful running-power of these birds. With 
rounded backs, and heads and necks craned to the front, 
they go sprinting along at a rapid pace, only to slacken off 
on nearing cover, which may be a good quarter of a mile from 
their feeding-grounds. 
Adult (Tete, August 8, 1898). Iris black; bill yellowish 
horn at tip, base reddish brown; top of head red; neck 
and sides of face blue, wattles tipped with red; legs and 
feet dark brown. 
An adult female, killed on Jan. 4, had a bright blue patch 
on the centre of the throat. 
241. Guttera edouardi (Hartl.). 
Of local distribution, and a very difficult bird to obtain. 
We first became aware of the presence of this species along 
the river through a captive bird in the possession of a half- 
caste at Matacania, some 30 miles below Zumbo. He told 
us that at a certain time of the year, generally after the rains, 
the birds come down from the hills, with their young ones, 
to the vicinity of the river, and it is then that the natives 
are able to capture them; but at other times it is next to 
impossible to approach them, since they retire to the in¬ 
accessible portions of the high hills and the thick woods that 
clothe their sides. 
By nature this bird is far more retiring than the Helmeted 
Guinea-fowd,and possesses even a greater aptitude for running, 
seldom making use of flight. We were fortunate enough 
to obtain two specimens of this species near the river, above 
Zumbo, while on another occasion, when pitching our tent for 
the night, we heard a flock close to the water, and not far off 
another one, but of the Helmeted species (Numida mitrata ), 
enabling us to observe to a nicety the difference between 
the cries of the two species. The call of the former, other¬ 
wise the same as that of the latter, was varied now and 
