78 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



never by any chance sees a single instance of white 

 feathering. The guinea-fowl of European farmyards 

 sprang, of course, originally from African stock — 

 most probably from South African. In colouring 

 and characteristics it resembles the wild Cape 

 guinea-fowl, which I have been describing, more 

 than any other species. The South African bird is, 

 however, bigger, heavier, darker in plumage, and 

 with the white spots more prominently displayed 

 — altogether a much finer bird. I have a strong 

 impression that the introduction into England of the 

 hardy and prolific wild South African species would 

 tend greatly to reinvigorate and add weight and 

 flavour to our domesticated bird. The importation of 

 a few hundred pairs would be by no means a difficult 

 or expensive operation, and would vastly improve the 

 present farmyard breed. 



