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CHAPTER XXIV. 



THE GUINEA FOWL. 



THIS Bird, in some measure, unites the characteristics of the 

 Pheasant and the Turkey, it has the delicate shape of the one, 

 and the bare head of the other. There are several varieties, 

 as the White, the Spotted, the Madagascar, and the Crested. 

 This latter is not so large as the common species ; the head 

 and neck are bare, of a dull blue, shaded with red, and, in- 

 stead of the casque, it has an ample crest of hairy-like disunited 

 feathers, of a bluish black, reaching as far forward as the nos- 

 trils, but in general turned backwards. "The whole plumage, 

 except the quills, is of a bluish black, covered with small, 

 grayish spots, sometimes four, sometimes six on each feather." 



This Bird is frequently called "Pintado," but Mr. Dixon 

 says : We have refrained from applying the term " Pintado" 

 to the Guinea Fowl : that word signifying, in the Portuguese 

 language, " painted," and having been first appropriated to the 

 black and white-chequered Petrel (Prowllaria, Capensis) by 

 the navigators who found them in the South Seas. The 

 Guinea Fowl is frequently called a Gallina, especially in Ire- 

 land. But under whatever denomination, it is no great 

 favourite with many keepers of Poultry, and is one of those 

 unfortunate beings, which, from having been occasionally 

 guilty of a few trifling faults, has gained a much worse repu- 



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