ORDER GALLIN.E. 



165 



Temminck has frequently and vainly tried to make them mix 

 with pheasants in the woods, but always without success. 

 The pheasants invariably dislodged, and gave way to these 

 new and troublesome guests. Sometimes they would quit 

 the neighbourhood altogether in consequence of the incessant 

 pursuit of the Pintados. This obliged that gentleman to 

 renounce his scheme of bringing up the Pintados in a wild 

 state, though their flesh, when thus brought up, acquires a 

 much more exquisite flavour, and is then preferable to that 

 of the pheasant. 



The size of the Guinea Pintado (N. Melegris,) is nearly 

 equal to that of the domestic cock ; its length, from the end 

 of the bill to the extremity of the tail, being about twenty 

 inches. The wild pintados in Africa are smaller than the 

 domestic ones, and have the casque less elevated and more 

 slender. 



The young pintados are very difficult to be reared. Their 

 weak constitution very much unfits them for propagation in 

 our northern climates ; they require continual attention, and 

 all this is probably the reason why they are brought up in 

 such small numbers. It is likely, however, that by proper 

 care they might be turned to a profitable account, as their 

 flesh is generally esteemed for its fine flavour, and their eggs 

 are excellent. Those persons, however, who have poultry- 

 yards well stocked with other fowls, should not attempt to 

 educate the pintados. They will soon find that all the 

 other birds will in a short time fall a sacrifice to them. 

 Moreover, their disagreeable and discordant voices will render 

 them very inconvenient in the immediate neighbourhood of a 

 dwelling-house. 



The pintados do not easily habituate themselves to seek 

 food, like poultry, and require constant attention in this way. 

 They must be regularly presented with their food once or 

 twice a day, which consists of barley, millet, or buckwheat 



