THE GI'INKA-FO-WI, AND (iTHKI! fiAI.DN,!':. 



The Pintado is the bird formerly known to the ancients under the name of Meleagris, 

 or Numidian Fowl. The common name employed in this country is the Guiuca-Fowl. 

 The wild birds inhabit the western coasts of Africa, and principally towards the south, 

 from the Cape of Good Hope as far as the coast of Guinea. Many broods unite together, 

 forming a large flock, flying in bands, and returning at fixed hours to the springs or 

 neighbouring rivers to drink. At sunset they retire into the woods, and perch themselves 

 on trees to pass the night. 



In the poultry-yard they pursue all the species of fowl mtli which they happen to be 

 placed, and maintain with them an obstinate and continual war. They are lively, rest- 

 less, and impetuous. M. Temminck frequently and vainly tried to make them mi.x with 

 the pheasants in the woods, but always without success. The pheasants invariabl}' gave 

 way to these new and troublesome guests, and sometimes they would quit the nciglihoui'- 

 hood altogether. The pintados aro clamorous and troublesome birds. Their monotonous 

 and disagreeable cry has been compared to a door grating on rusty hinges. It may be 

 represented by the syllables ceuk, cciiJi, prtmoimced forcibly, and with a rough voice. 

 When this wretched noise becomes wearisome to themselves, they then change it for a 

 little cr5^ which may be indicated by the syllables chi-wi. 



The female lays usually at ilio end of i\Iay, or in the early days of June, and the 

 eggs are generally ircjm sixteen to twenty-four in number. The shell is very hard, ol' a 

 yellowish white, spotted with small bro^vn points. They are deposited in a retired place 

 under some bush. The incubation lasts three weeks and four days. Tlic female seldom 

 sits with any assiduit}', nor when the young are disclosed does she displaj' for them any 

 great aflfection. The casque on the top of the head, and the barbies of the lower jaw, are 

 not to be distinguished before the l)irds are six months old. 



iS'uiiiiilu Mcliayiis. 



