106 OUK DOMESTIC FO^VLS. 



THE GUINEA-FOWL. 



The guinea-fowl, or pintado, {Numida melea- 

 gris,) is tlie true meleagris of the ancients,* a 

 term generically applied by Belon, Aldrovandus, 

 and Gesner, to the turkey, and now retained, 

 although the error is acknowledged, in order 

 to prevent confusion. 



The common guinea-fowl is a native of Africa, 

 where it appears to be extensively spread, 

 frequenting the banks of rivers, and marshes, 

 and open-humed localities, where various ber- 

 ries, seeds, insects, and slugs are in abundance. 

 In its habits it is decidedly gregarious, and 

 associates in large flocks, which wander abroad 

 during the day in search of food, and collect 

 together on the approach of evening, in order 

 to roost upon some tall tree, or clump of trees, 

 where they crowd in close array on the 

 branches. It is not without difficulty that 

 these birds can be forced to take to flight, and 

 then it is only for a short distance. They 

 trust principally to their rapid mode of run- 

 ning, and to their dexterity in threading the 

 mazes of brushwood and dense herbage, for 

 security. They scour the woodland glades 



* See Ovid Metam. lib. viii. fab. 4, 



