226 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



THE GUINEA-FOWL. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE GUINEA-FOWL. 



THIS is the Numidia Meleagris of ornitholo- 

 gists, which received the name of Guinea-fowl 

 on account of its being brought from the Guinea 

 Coast of Africa, and was anciently confounded 

 with the turkey, and is supposed to have been 

 introduced soon after the Europeans had visited 

 the western coast of Africa, in their voyages to 

 India, by the Cape of Good Hope. There is no 

 doubt, from the descriptions given by Columella 

 and Varro, that the Guinea-fowl was reared on 

 the farms of the Romans as early as the com- 

 mencement of the Christian era, and that it was 

 first made known to them during the wars with 

 Africa. " The African hen," says Columella, 

 u which most persons call the Numidian, bears 

 upon her head a bright-red helmet and crest." 



The Guinea-fowl has not only been diffused 

 through Europe, at a very early date, but trans- 

 ported into America. 



In the Middle Ages we lose all trace of it; no 

 writers of those times appear to notice it ; but 



in the early part of the 18th century it was tol- 

 erably common in England, and is now com- 

 pletely naturalized. 



Anderson, Dampier, and other travelers in 

 Africa, have observed the wild Guinea-fowl in 

 different parts of the continent; but, as about 

 six species are known, we can not be certain 

 which of them is intended. 



The common Guinea-fowl appears to be dis- 

 persed through an extensive range of Africa, 

 frequenting low, humid situations, and the banks 

 of rivers and marshes. It is eminently grega- 

 rious, assembling in large flocks, which wander 

 about in the day in search of food ; as evening 

 approaches, they seek the branches of trees, and 

 roost crowded together. It is of a restless, wan- 

 dering disposition, which does not leave them 

 in captivity. It will stray for miles from the 

 farm to which it belongs, and it often happens 

 that a long-missed female will make her ap- 

 pearance with a young brood attending her. 



