240 



A VES— ORDER GALLIFORMES. 



Tlie Guinea- 



Fowls. — 



Genus 



Numida. 



trees, and 

 that they 



are 

 can 



are found over nearly the whole of Africa, to which continent and 

 gascar they are peculiar. Seven species are recognised, each with a kind of 

 horn or helmet on the head, and they are all birds of the 

 open country, in contradistinction to the crested guinea- 

 fowls, which are forest-haunting birds. The true guinea- 

 fowls (Numida) go in flocks, and frequent the scrubby 

 bush on the borders of streams. They escape by running, 

 but when hotly pursued by a dog, they take to the 

 so occupied with taking stock of their canine pursuer, 

 be shot down, one after the other. That they can be 

 easily tamed is proved by the way in which they are domesticated in nearly 

 every country. In Damara Land, the late Mr. 0. J. Andersson says that he 

 has seen a thousand together. When the birds assemble in search of water, 

 and when a pool is discovered, the first-comers act in a most civilised manner, 

 approaching and drinking their fill, and retiring in an opposite direction, that 

 the next in order may have room to file in and slake their thirst. 



Of the crested guinea-fowls {Guttera) four species are known, all inhabitants 

 of the bush-country and forests. One of them is peculiar to West Africa 

 ((?. crlstata), one to South-East Africa (G. cdoiuirdi), and one to East Africa 

 ((?. puchercmi). Like the ordinary guinea-fowls, when hunted with a dog, 

 they take to the trees, and are easily shot. One of the most beautiful of the 

 group is the vulturine guinea-fowl (Acryllinm vidtiiriiium), with a bare head 

 like a vulture, whence its name, and remarkable for the bright cobalt-blue 

 colour on the wings and flanks. The bare portions of the head and neck are 

 also cobalt-blue. It is an inhabitant of Eastern Africa, from the Pangani 

 River to Somali Land. 



The common turkey of our farmyards is descended from the Mexican turkej 

 (Mcleagris gallopavo). Many races of wild turkeys are known in the Southeni 

 The Turkeys.- United States 

 GeuMS Mdeagrisr ^"'^ Florida, 

 each ot which 

 has a separate and definite 

 range ; but the most beautiful 

 species of all is the Honduras 

 turkey (M. ocellata). Though 

 they feed on different kinds of 

 seeds during the day, the tur- 

 keys betake themselves at night 

 to the trees to roost. They 

 even ascend the mountains to a 

 height of 8,000 to 10,000 feet, 

 descending to the lower valleys 

 in autumn, when they con- 

 gregate in great flocks. They 

 are polygamous, and the male 

 leaves to the female tlie entire duty of rearing the younw 



These are all birds of tlie New World, and are remarkable for having the 



The Toothed ®''"'' "^^ ^^^'^ ^"'^'^'' "'''^ndiblc serrated and toothed. They are 



Partridges — f f "jewhat large group, and include all the colins and 



Sub-family t""e<i and piiinted partridges. Two of the best known 



Odontophorhinx. ^P'^cies are tlie Californian quail (Lophortyx californiana) 



and the Virginian quail (Ortyx vinjiiiiauus). 



Fig. 11.— The Tuekev (Meleagris gallopavo). 



