08 A HISTORY OF 



fall upon, kill, and devour it. Such is the language of boons, those 

 who have frequent opportunities of examining the manners of the bird 

 itself, know what credit ought to be given to such an account. 



Of the pheasant, as of all other domestic fowls, there are many va- 

 rieties. There are white pheasants, crested pheasants, spotted phea- 

 bants ; but of all others, the golden pheasant of China is the most 

 beautiful. It is a doubt whether the peacock itself can bear the com- 

 parison. However, the natives of China would not have us consider 

 it as their most beautiful bird, though covered all over with eyes, re- 

 sembling in miniature those of the peacock. By their accounis, it is 

 /ar exceeded by the fongwang, an imaginary bird, of which they give 

 A most fantastic description. It is thus that the people of every coun- 

 try, though possessed of the greatest advantages, have still others that 

 they would persuade strangers they enjoy, which have existence only 

 in the imagination. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE PINTADA, OR GUINEA-HEN. 



THIS is a very remarkable bird, and in some measure unites the 

 characteristics of the pheasant and the turkey. It has the fine deli- 

 cate shape of the one, and the bare head of the other. To be more 

 particular, it is about the size of a common hen, but as it is support- 

 ed on longer legs, it looks much larger. It has a round back, with a 

 ail turned downwards like a partridge. The head is covered with a 

 ftind of casque ; and the whole plumage is black or dark grey, speck- 

 led with white spots. It has wattles under the bill, which do not pro- 

 ceed from the lower chap, as in cocks, but from the upper, which gives 

 it a very peculiar air, while its restless gait and odd chuckling sound 

 distinguish it sufficiently from all other birds whatever. 



It is well known all over Europe, and even better than with us, as 

 the nations that border on the Mediterranean probably had it before 

 us from those parts of Africa which lie nearest. Accordingly we 

 find it in different countries called by different names, from the place 

 whence they had it. They are by some called the Barbary-hcn ; by 

 others, the tamis-bird; and by others, the bird of Numidia. We have 

 given it the name of that part of Africa from whence probably it was 

 first brought. 



In many parts of their native country they are seen in vast flocks 

 together, feeding their young, and leading them in quest of food. All 

 their habits are like those of the poultry kind, and they agree in every 

 other respect except that the male and female are so much alike that 

 they can hardly be distinguished asunder. The only difference lies 

 in the wattles described above, which in the cock are of a bluish cast ; 

 in the hen they are more inclining to a red. Their eggs, like their 



