THE GUINEA-FOW EL, — AIl! 
pregnant, and desiring a son, hatched an egg in her bosom. The egg 
produced a male bird; the empress, in consequence, concluded that 
her issue would be ason. This was realised, for she brought into 
the world Tiberius—rather a wicked bird, as every one knows. 
The Tragopans (Cerzornis) and the Firebacks (Gallophasis) both 
belong to India or the Indian Archipelago, and are all remarkable 
for the brilliancy of their plumage. The Tragopan, which Buffon 
calls the Horned Pheasant, looks like a cross between the Domestic 
Fowl and the Pheasant, but is distinguished by two small horns which 
decorate the head of the male. The Firebacks live in a wild state, 
being as yet unknown domesticated, consequently little can be said 
of their habits, they probably differ but slightly from those of the 
pheasant. 
Guinea-fowls (Vide) have remarkably small heads for their 
size; beak and neck short ; the tail equally short and drooping ; the 
tarsus very low, and destitute of spurs; body round; wings short 
and concave; on the head is a hard crest of a reddish blue, some- 
times replaced in mature birds by a tuft ; the wattles are fleshy, and 
hang under the beak. 
The Common Guinea-fowl (Vumida meleagris, Fig. 156), has a 
slate-coloured plumage, covered with white spots; it is indigenous 
to Africa, and its introduction into Europe dates from far back, for 
it was done by the Greeks and Romans. The former made it an 
emblem of paternal affection. According to Greek writers, the sisters 
of Meleager felt such grief at the death of their brother that Diana, 
to terminate their woes, turned them into Guinea-fowls. The goddess, 
wishing that their plumage should bear the trace of their tears, marked 
it with white spots. 
The Romans, who highly esteemed the flesh of these birds, 
propagated them with the greatest care; but after the invasion of 
Rome by the barbarians they disappeared from Europe; and even 
during the Middle Ages we cease to hear of them. The Portuguese 
re-discovered them in Africa on their return from the Indies, and 
again imported them into Europe, where they have since multiplied 
to a great extent. But the turbulent and quarrelsome character of 
these birds, and their noisy and discordant cries, are serious obstacles 
to their becoming favourites ; they have also ceaseless quarrels with 
Hens and Turkeys, and although not so strong as their antagonists, 
they fight them fearlessly. They have been seen to attack the young 
of other birds, and split their skulls with a blow of their beaks. They 
show great attachment to their own young, yet they occupy themselves 
but little with the cares of a family ; consequently their progeny is 
