436 



GALLINACEOUS BIEDS. 



The Eomans, wlio highly esteemed the flesh of these birds, 

 propagated them with the greatest care to figure at their feasts, but 

 after the invasion of the barbarians they disappeared from Europe, 

 and during the Middle Ages we never hear of them. The Portu- 

 guese re-discovered them in Africa on their return from the 

 Indies, and again imported them into Europe, where they have 

 since multiplied to a great extent. But the turbulent and quarrel- 

 some character of these birds and their noisy and discordant cries 

 are serious obstacles to their becoming favourites; they have also 



%m 



. Fig. 176.— Guinea-fowl (Numida cristata, Latham). 



ceaseless quarrels with the Hens and Turkeys, their neighbours, and 

 although not so strong as their antagonists, they fight them fear- 

 lessly. They have been seen to attack the young of other birds, 

 and split their skulls with a blow of their beaks. They show 

 great attachment to their own j'oung, yet they occupy themselves 

 but little with the cares of a family ; consequently their progeny 

 is generally brought up by Hens or Turkeys. Although bad 

 nurses, their fecundity is very great, and when well fed they 

 lay as many as a hundred eggs in a year : these are much 

 sought after, and epicures prefer them to those of the Hen. Their 

 flesh, though good, is not so much esteemed. There are now 

 several species known in a wild state in Africa, and in a domestic 



