NUMIDA PLUMIFERA.
' -rfJASSIN’S GUINEA-FOWL.
NUMIDA PLUMIFERA, Cass. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. PhU¿(1856) p. 321,, et Journ. vol. iv. pl. 2.—Gray, List. Gall. (1867) p. 44.—Sclat. Proc.
's, Zool. Soc. (1863) p. 126.
H a b. Cape López, Western Africa (Du C h a il lu ) .
T h e Guinea-fowl here represented is a native of ; Western Africa, and is one of the discoveries made by M. Du Chaillu during his
expeditions into that little-known land. It was described by Mr. Cassin as above .quoted, who says of it that “ this interesting
addition to the ornithological fauna of Western Africa is strictly of the same group of species as Numida cristata, Pallas, Spic.
Zool. pl. 2, but is readily to be distinguished by its erect crest, which is quite peculiar, and strongly characterizes this bird. It
has not, either,-‘the black neck and breast of the species mentioned. Specimens of both sexes are very similar to each o th e r; but
the . male appears to be constantly distinguished in having the head covered as described above [covered with short velvet-like feathers],
which in the female is naked, or with a few. hair-like or downy feathers. The white spots on all parts of the body are smaller
than in N . cristata, and extend to the neck, breast, and tibiae, which in that species are black. This bird is one of the most
important of the numerous ‘ornithological discoveries of Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu, according to whom it was. met with in small flocks
from fifty to one hundred miles in the interior from Cape Lopez, but was unknown to the inhabitants on the sea-coast.”
This. Guinea-fowl,’ says its discoverer, ‘ is very sliyj'but marches in large flocks- through the woods, where the traveller hears
its loud voice- It utters a kind of ‘ quack,’ hoarse and discordant, like th e voices o f other Guinea-fowls. It avoids the path left
by travellers; but its own tracks are met everywhere in the woods it frequents, as the-flock scratch and tear up the ground
wherever they stop. It is strong of wing, and sleeps by night on the tops of high trees, a flock generally ’roosting together on
the same tree. When surprised by the hunter they do not fly in a body, but scatter in every direction. Thus it is a difficult
bird to get, and the natives, do not often get a shot a t it.” ’
The fact, as stated above {by Mr. Cassin, that the male has the head and neck covered with hair-like feathers* is very peculiar;
for we should naturally suppose, if either sex were so" marked, it would be the female, as the bare blue skin is conspicuous; and
I am inclined to think that it is not a sexual mark, but rather indicates immaturity..
Mr. Cassin’s description is as fallows:— - Colours generally resembling those Of N. cristata, but not having the black of the neck
and breast of that species. Crest in both sexes and downy plumage of the head jjn the male black ; secondary quills with their
outer webs yellowish white ; tertiaries with narrow longitudinal stripes of bluish white on their outer and exposed webs. All other
parts of the plumage above and below (including the-neck and breast) bluish black or slate-colotir, with numerous small circular
spots of bluish white, rather larger on the neck. Bill bluish horn-colour, lighter a t the t ip ; legs dark in dried skin.”
The figure is life-size.