THE GUINEA-FOWL. 107 



and the open lands, bordering forests, or 

 wild thickets, with great celerity, and quickly 

 escape pursuit. In disposition they are shy, 

 wary, and alert. 



The guinea-fowl has been alluded to by vari- 

 ous travellers in Africa, as Adamson, Dampier, 

 Le Vaillant, and others ; but as upwards of 

 six distinct species are now known, (some of 

 very great beauty,) and as they give no specific 

 indications, we cannot positively say to which 

 species they allude. However, it cannot be 

 doubted that, in general manners and disposi- 

 tion, they all closely agree. 



We have incontestable proof that the ancient 

 Gi'eeks and Romans were well acquainted with 

 the guinea-fowl (or meleagris). It is noticed 

 by Aristotle, among the former, and by Pliny, 

 Varro, and Columella, among the latter. The 

 wonder is thatBelon, a scholar, should ever have 

 considered the turkey as the bird in question. 



But though, as we have said, this bird was 

 known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, it 

 does not appear to have spread rapidly, or been 

 thoroughly naturalized, otherwise Belon's mis- 

 take would be unpardonable. In fact, we lose 

 all trace of it in the middle ages, and strange 

 to say, it appears to have come to us, not from 



