78 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



birds until then unknown, into guinea-hens, whose 

 plumage is still sprinkled with the tears of the un- 

 happy girls, and whose unceasing cries are the con- 

 tinuation of their sobs. Such, according to the an- 

 cients, is the origin of guinea-fowls, called by them 

 Meleagridce in honor of the hero of the legend. 



"The childish imagination of the ancients elab- 

 orated this story of the metamorphosis of Meleager's 

 sisters out of the two most prominent traits of the 

 guinea-fowl, its plumage and its cry. On a back- 

 ground of bluish gray, the color of mourning, are 

 sprinkled innumerable round white spots. Those 

 are the tears, running in pearly drops over the bird 

 as they ran over the somber garments of the incon- 

 solable sisters. The guinea-fowl's voice is a dis- 

 cordant, continuous, unendurable cry, in which the 

 fable recognizes, unquestioningly, the painful sobs 

 of Meleager's sisters." 



1 ' Those resemblances are ingenious," said Louis, 

 "but they do not take the place of real knowledge of 

 the guinea-fowl's origin. Not even in those old days 

 could every one have believed in the singular tale you 

 have just told us." 



"Many were satisfied with it and sought no fur- 

 ther information. And even in our day, my friend, 

 in this so-called enlightened century, is it so unusual 

 that the more absurd a thing is the more easily it 

 takes root in our minds! Many were satisfied with 

 the story, but the wise knew well that the bird came 

 to us from Africa, and for that reason called it the 

 African fowl. 



