336 NATURAL HISTORY OF AFRICA. 



colour to which we have already so often attracted theif 

 attention, would probably yield more readily to certain cu- 

 linary associations connected with poultry, turkeys, phea- 

 sants, grouse, &c. ; all of which, and many more equally 

 dear to the late Dr. Kitchener, belong to the present exten- 

 sive division of our subject. It happens, however, that 

 cocks and hens are of eastern origin, that turkeys are nativo 

 only to America, — that pheasants come from the banks of 

 the Phasis, — and that grouse are peculiar to northern 

 countries. We must therefore, in the mean time, be con- 

 tented with a few pigeons. 



The genus Columba is widely diffused over both the tem- 

 perate and tropical regions of the earth. Its species abound 

 in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America ; and, even in the 

 forests of the far-distant islands of the Southern Ocean, 

 their radiant plumage 



•'Fills many a damp obscure recess 

 With lustre of a saintly show." 



One of the most magnificent of the tribe is the hackled 

 pigeon (C. Francia). It is distinguished from all others 

 by the irregular form of the feathers on the head, neck, and 

 breast, which are long and narrow, and terminate in a 

 shining appendage resembling in consistence, though not 

 in colour, that with which the wing-feathers of the Bohe- 

 mian chatterer are furnished. The species inhabits Southern 

 Africa and the island of Madagascar. A still more singular 

 bird is the parabolic pigeon (C. arquatrix). It was dis- 

 covered by Le Vaillant, and is figured in his splendid 

 work on the birds of Africa. The flight of this species is 

 very remarkable. It never proceeds in a straight line, but 

 on commencing its route it describes a parabola, and con- 

 tinues forming a series of arcs during the whole time, fre- 

 quently uttering a peculiar cry. It inhabits the forests of 

 Anteniquois, and is a great enemy to the white eagle. 



The Guinea fowls, or pintados, are entirely peculiar to 

 Africa as native species, though they now breed freely as 

 domestic birds both in Europe and America. There are 

 three kinds of this bird known to naturalists, viz. the Guinea 

 pintado (Numida meleagris), common in our poultry-yards ; 

 the mitred pintado (N. mitrata) ; and the crested pintado 

 (N. cristata). 



