l64 CLASS Avi:s. • 



they have been spread, not only in Europe, but many navi- 

 gators have also transported them into America, where, 

 according to the testimony of many travellers, they have 

 found several races ; but these races, or, to speak more cor- 

 rectly, varieties, are reducible to some trivial differences in 

 the colour of the plumage. 



Africa must be considered as the native country of the 

 pintados. The first transported into Europe were termed 

 fowls of Numidia, and were probably brought from Nubia 

 to Rome, where, according to the testimony of Varro, they 

 were very rare. The Romans held them in high estimation, 

 and their flesh was considered a great delicacy at the ban- 

 quets of great men. 



On the western coasts of Africa, and principally towards 

 the south, from the Cape of Good Hope as far as the Coast 

 of Guinea, the wild pintados inhabit, in large flocks. They 

 unite many broods together, fly in bands, and return at fixed 

 hours to the springs or neighbouring rivers to drink. At 

 sun-set they retire into the woods, and perch themselves on 

 trees to pass the night. 



The pintados are clamorous and troublesome birds. Their 

 monotonous and disagreeable cry has been compared to a 

 door grating on rusty hinges. It may be represented by the 

 syllables ceuJc, ceuk, pronounced forcibly, and with a rough 

 voice. When these birds appear tired of this wretched noise, 

 they then utter interruptedly a little cry which may be repre- 

 sented by the syllables chi-wi. 



In the poultry-yard, the Meleagrides pursue all the 

 species of fowl with which they happen to be placed, 

 and maintain with them an obstinate and continual war. 

 They are lively, restless, and impetuous; and though 

 their flesh is excellent, they are so difficult to rear, and are 

 such intolerant despots, that the attempt to make them pro- 

 pagate in menageries is not unfrequently abandoned. M. 



