130 PINTADO ITS FORM AND HABITS. 



like the turkey. Their age extends to twenty years, 

 and at three the tail of the cock is full and complete. 

 The cock requires from two to four hens, and where 

 the country agrees with them, they are very prolific. 

 They are granivorous, like other domestic fowls, pre- 

 ferring barley. The pea-hen, like the turkey, sits a 

 month. 



The PINTADO, or Guinea Hen, has been said to 

 unite the character and properties of the pheasant and 

 the turkey. It is about the size of the common hen, 

 but standing high upon its legs gives it the appear- 

 ance of a larger size. The back is round, with the 

 tail turned downwards, like the partridge. It is an 

 active, restless, and courageous bird, and will even 

 attack the turkey, although so much above its size. 

 The Guinea fowls assimilate perfectly with the com- 

 mon species in habits and in kinds of food ; but have 

 this peculiarity, that the cocks and hens are so nearly 

 alike, it is difficult to distinguish them. They have 

 also a peculiar gait and cry, or chuckling. The head 

 is covered with a kind of casque, with wattles under 

 the bill, and the whole plumage is either black or dark 

 grey, speckled with regular and uniform white spots. 

 The pintado is generally supposed to be a native of 

 Guinea, whence its additional name ; but it is in equal 

 plenty in America. In those countries it perches on 

 trees, and in the wild state, makes its nest in the 

 holes of the palm-tree. It is gregarious, and often 

 found in large flocks. Like the peacock, it may be 

 said to be universally domesticated. 



There is sometimes, but not invariably, a distinc- 

 tion of colour in certain parts, between the cock and 



