N UMID A V Ü L T Ü R IN A , Hardw.
Num. capite, gulâ colloque superiore plumis egentibus, pilis attamèn nigris adspcrsis ad colhm longioribus ; nuchâ plumis
lanuginosis fuscis crebrè vestitâ ; collo in/eriore plumis elongatis lanceolatisque ornato, singulis strigam albam
centralem ostendentibus ; hanc lined sordidè nigrâ et albo irroratâ, cingente, marginequé exteriore cceruleo ; plumis±
dorsi superioris has simulantibus, latioribus attamèn, strigâ albâ centrali angustiore, guttisque parmlis albis in
lineam nigram obliqué currentibus; alarum tectricibus, dorso, wropygio., caudâ, tectricibus caudce, crissoque, cum
femoribus, nigrescenti-fuscis, guttis rotwndatis crebrè omatis singulis higro circumdatis, intervallis guttis parmlis
sordidè albis irroratis ; primariis fuscis, pogoniis externis apicibusque guttis sordidè albis ornatis ; secundariis
nigrescenti-fuscis, pogoniis externis lineis albis imperfectis tribus longitudinalitèr notatis ; pogoniis internis seriem
triplicem guttarum albarum ostendentibus ; pectore lateribusque abdominis metallicè cceruleis ; abdomine medio nigro ;
lateribus sordidè rosaceis guttis albis nigro-cinctis crebrè notatis ; rostro sordidè rubro ; pedibus fuscis.
Long. tot. 18 une. ; rostri, 2 ; alee, 11 ; caudce, 5 f ; tarsi, 3-f-.
Head, throat, and upper p a rt of the throat destitute of feathers but besprinkled with hairs of a black colour, which
are longest on the neck ; nape thickly clothed with short velvet-like brown feathers ; lower p art of the neck
ornamented with long lanceolate and flowing feathers, which have a broad stripe of white down the centre, to
which on each side succeeds a line of dull black, finely dotted with white, and margined with fine blue ;
feathers of the anterior p a rt of the hack of a similar form, but broader and with a narrower line of white
down the centre, and w ith the minute white dots disposed in irregular and obliquely transverse lines ; wingr
coverts, back, rump, tail, upper and under tail-coverts and thighs blackish brown, ornamented with numerous
round and irregular spots of white surrounded with circles of black, the intermediate spaces filled with very
minute dots of dull white; primaries brown with light shafts and spots of brownish white on the outer web,
and the -tips of the inner ; secondaries brownish black, with three imperfect lines of white disposed lengthwise
on the outer web, and three rows of irregular spots of white on the inner web ; breast and sides of the abdo.-
men beautiful metallic blue ; centre of the abdomen black ; flanks dull pink with numerous spots of white
surrounded with circles of black ; bill brownish red ; feet brown.
Numida mlturina, Hardw., in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part II. 1834. p. 52.
T he Guinea Fowls, as they are familiarly termed, constitute one of the most isolated groups among the
Gdllinacece ; five or six species are now known, all of which are from Africa.
Independently o f the chaste and delicately spotted markings which adorn the whole o f this tribe, the neck
o f the present species is ornamented by a ruff o f lanceolate flowing plumes, which new feature, as well as the
head being entirely devoid of fleshy appendages, render it conspicuously different from all its congeners. We
are not able to furnish any account o f its history, further than th at our figure is taken from an example, in all
probability unique, forming a p art o f the collection o f the United Service Museum, to which it was presented
by Captain Probyn. I t is certainly one of-the most noble birds th at has been discovered for some years, and
we indulge in the hope that the period may not be far distant when we shall become better acquainted with
the species, and th at living individuals may even become denizens o f our menageries and farmyards, where it
would doubtless thrive equally as well as its allied congener, which is so familiar to all and whose original
stock is still found in a wild state in the p art o f Africa which the present lovely species is supposed to
inhabit.
Habitat Western Africa.
The figure is of the natural size.