THE GUINEA FOWL. 



ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



The Africana, which most people call a Numidica, is like a 

 Meleagris, except that it bears on its head a red helmet 

 and comb, both of which are blue in the Meleagris. 



COLUMELLA. 



THE Guinea fowl, in its natural habitat that is in 

 a state of nature appears to be exclusively confined 

 to the burning wastes of Central Africa, although it is 

 found wild on the islands of Ascension, Hayti, Cuba, 

 and Jamaica, where they sometimes do much injury to 

 crops and are shot as game. In Africa, it frequents 

 the open glades and borders of forests, the banks of 

 rivers, and other localities where grain, seeds, berries, 

 insects, &c., offer an abundant supply of food. It is 

 gregarious in its habits, associating in considerable 

 flocks, which wander about during the day, and col- 

 lect together on the approach of evening. They roost 

 in clusters on the branches of trees, or large bushes, 

 ever and anon uttering their harsh grating cry, till 

 they settle fairly for the night. 



The Gruinea fowl does not trust much to its wings 

 as a means of escape from danger ; indeed, it is not 

 without some difficulty that these birds can be forced 

 to take to flight, and then they wing their way only 

 to a short distance, when they alight, and trust 

 to their svviftnesss of foot. They run with very 

 great celerity, are shy and wary, and seek refuge 



