104 BIRDS 



The Black-winged or Japan Peafowl is now well 

 known to represent a mutation from the common stock and 

 not a distinct species. The cock differs from the typical 

 bird in having the wing coverts iridescent black, instead of 

 barred with white. The chicks are white when hatched. 

 The cocks gradually become colored, but the females re- 

 main mostly white. 



The Javan or Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) is found 

 in Burma, the Malay Peninsula and Java. In most re- 

 spects it closely resembles the Indian Peafowl, but is easily 

 distinguished by the green, scaled feathers of the neck, black 

 wings and long, constricted crest, as contrasted with the 

 fan-shaped ornament of its congener. The hen equals her 

 lord in beauty, but lacks the train. Hens of this species are 

 curiously rare, two cocks all too frequently being sold for 

 a pair. 



This bird is less hardy than the Indian species, and can- 

 not endure our winters without shelter. Otherwise its treat- 

 ment does not differ from that of the common bird. 



The cocks are uniformly pugnacious, and may become 

 really dangerous. 



Hybrids between the two species are not uncommon and 

 usually share the characters of each parent. 



Guinea-fowl 



While the guinea-fowl are closely related to the pheasants 

 and peafowl, and belong to the same order, they form a 

 distinct family (Numidid^). About twenty-three species 

 have been described, but only one, the Common or Pearl 

 Guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris) , has become thoroughly 

 domesticated. All are natives of Africa, and are much pur- 

 sued as game birds. 



In color and appearance the common sort are identical 



