192 MY FARM. 



fraternize charmingly, and threaten to become one 

 family. These birds, unlike all other feathered 

 animals, show no marked difference of appearance 

 between the sexes ; so slight is this indeed, that 

 even the naturalists have blundered into errors, and 

 left us in the dark.* Even a fighting propensity 

 does not distinguish the cock, I observe ; for the 

 female bird is an arrant termagant, and has under 

 taken, in my own flock, a fierce battle with a torn- 

 turkey, in which, though worsted, and eventually 

 killed, she showed a fine chivalrous pluck. They 

 are not, however, quarrelsome among themselves ; 

 although flocking together in communities, the male 

 birds are strictly faithful to their mates, and mani 

 fest none of the sultanic propensities which so de 

 plorably mislead the other domestic fowls. 



Notwithstanding their harsh cry, to which the 

 Greeks gave a special descriptive name, f I like the 

 Guinea-fowl ; they are excellent layers, enormous 

 devourers of insects -3, little over-fond, it is true, 

 of young cauliflowers, and grapes, yet a stanch, 

 lively, self-possessed bird ; and notwithstanding the 

 sneers of Varro,J whose taste must have been poor 

 in the matter of poultry, excellent eating. 



* Buffon ; DC la Pintard. f 



\ Lib. III., De Re Rust. Hae novissimae in triclinium gauearium 

 introierunt culiua propter fastidium hominum. Veneunt propter 

 penuriain magno. 



