252 ACTUAL SUCCESS. [CHAP. n. 



in flocks, they pair like the pigeon or the partridge. 

 Perhaps their introduction as game might be the most 

 advisable."* 



Thus, then, the matter stands at present, according 

 to, we believe, every yet published authority. Guans 

 can be and ought to be reared, in every squire's or large 

 farmer's poultry-yard, we will not say in swarms or 

 flocks, but certainly in moderate and tolerable abun- 

 dance. They are not, however, yet visible either at 

 home or at market ; not in our coverts, nor at the game- 

 shop. But why not ? There is a fault and a difficulty 

 somewhere ; either we have been very remiss and indo- 

 lent in neglecting to make such valuable acquisitions, 

 or Nature has been very unyielding. 



Now the causes which incapacitate a foreign bird for 

 domestication with us, are, either an invincible wildness 

 of disposition, which Guans have not ; or an inability to 

 bear our seasons, which they have to some extent ; or 

 an utter repugnance to breed in captivity, which they 

 have eminently. The circumstance of their producing 

 only a small annual increase of young, if it would but 

 continue annual, although small, is by no means a com- 

 plete bar to their dispersion among the country resi- 

 dences of Great Britain ; for they will be protected and 

 maintained by the wealthy, and only slain now and then 

 for the table as a dish of state, exactly as at this day is 

 the case with Peafowl. Curassows have bred under cir- 

 cumstances of extraordinary petting and indulgence, 

 just as Mangoes and Bananas have been ripened on 

 British ground by skilful gardeners; but Guans can 

 scarcely be said to have bred at all. 



* Knight's Farmer's Library, Art. Poultry, p. 569. 



