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Show 584 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON A N E W GUINEA-FOWL. [Julie 20, barred with brownish black, lower part also white, but the bars fainter and wider apart; bill and feet black. 5. Description of a supposed new Species of Guinea-fowl from Ugogo, Central Africa. By D. G. ELLIOT, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. [Received June 13, 1871.] NUMIDA GRANTI. N. cristata, nigra; capite et gutture rubris ; collo postice purpureo cinctu collari nigro; corpore reliquo nigro, punctulis ceerulescenti-albispassim maculato; primariis vix rufescenti-brunneis. Head with a full upright jet-black crest, like the other species belonging to this group of the genus Numida; entire upper part of the head and also the throat bright red; back and lower part of neck purplish black; entire plumage black, spotted all over with bluish-white dots; primaries bright brown ; outer webs of the first secondaries white ; tip of tail and line above knee-joint black, unspotted ; bill greenish ; feet and legs black. Hab. Ugogo (Grant). The present description was taken from a coloured drawing made by Colonel Grant from the only specimen shot by him during his adventurous journey with Captain Speke through Central Africa. It differs from all tbe species of this genus that I am acquainted with in having the head red, all the others being black in the regions of the eyes and ears, the present bird having the same colour upon those parts as is seen on the front of the throat. The drawing which Colonel Grant kindly placed in m y hands is very carefully done, and is amply sufficient to illustrate the species, showing very clearly its peculiar characteristics. Colonel Grant has also handed me the following extract from his Journal:-" 8th Dec, I860.-Both off in different directions shooting from six A.M. until nine. I saw nothing except shooting a kind of Guinea-fowl with black ostrich-feather-like top-knot; back of head, eyes, and nostrils and windpipe red sealing-wax colour ; neck in a loose ruffled skin of purple meeting at tower part in round collar-like edges. Body the usual bird's-eye; primary feathers brick-brown, a few of those next them edged with white. Legs black, above knee-joint jet-black feathers ; the thigh spotted ; not as round in body as Guinea-fowl, and very slightly compressed as seen on the ground." Although the distinguished travellers killed numbers of the common Guinea-fowl, this specimen was the only one of this form seen by them. I have great pleasure in naming it after Colonel Grant, who did so much towards bringing their hazardous journey to a successful issue, an undertaking which cannot but be regarded as one of the most remarkable ever accomplished. |