1094 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



good idea of the whole tribe. A very rare species is the Vulturine 

 Guinea-fowl, so called for its vulture-like head and neck. The whole 

 species are among the most watchful and wary of birds, giving instant 

 alarm with their shrill note of danger. When bred, they should be 

 allowed full liberty, since they do not stand confinement well. 



XI. Peafowls. 



This magnificent bird, quite useless except for the splendor of its plum- 

 age and the value of its tail feathers, is rare in farmyards, from its sup- 

 posed want of adaptation to northern climates. This, however, is a mis- 

 take ; they are as hardy as most of the breeds of barn-yard fowls. The 

 male is cruel and cowardly, and is given to destroying the eggs of the 



female. Hence the hens are very secret as to their nests. They do not 

 lay their eggs until late in the season, and keep their broods away from 

 the yard;? until driven thither in the autumn for want of food. They 

 have considerable powers of flight, and the males, especially, wander .ong 

 distances from home ; they should be allowed their full liberty. 



Xn. Anatomy of the Hen. 



The anatomy of the hen will answer for all the land birds, and, in a 

 "Pleasure (for all but th j scientific breeder) for water-fowls as well, since 

 the frame of the latter is only so modified as to permit their swimming 

 an1 diving in water. Both ir land and water-fowls the more valuable 



