GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



mates with the domestic species. This is contrary to my 

 experience. I got some young birds which were on a Boer 

 farm and had been hatched under a hen, and these when 

 full grown not only bred inter se but also crossed freely with 

 the domesticated bird, which is doubtless derived from a 

 West African species {N. meleagris). The wild cocks were 

 much more powerful and heavy than the tame birds, 

 and during the mating-season they killed several of the 

 latter by literally running them to death. A Guinea-Fowl's 

 duel is a very long-winded and tedious affair, and consists 

 in the weaker bird running about three yards in front of the 

 stronger for an hour or so, when the assailant wiU stop to 

 draw breath, as well he may. The weaker bird then attacks : 

 there is a wild jump in the air, but as they have no spurs no 

 harm is done — a feather or two is lost, the weaker bird loses 

 heart, and the whole performance is gone through again. 

 The hen bird meanwhile looks on and does nothing. This 

 goes on ad nausea?n until the weaker bird is finally beaten 

 off altogether, and the victor takes off the hen. 



I think they are monogamous — the tame ones I owned 

 certainly were ; but when the young are hatched, several 

 birds apparently "pool" their broods, and look after aU 

 indiscriminately, even if the broods are of different ages. 



Guinea-Fowl are very difficult to shoot when found on 

 river-banks, unless you can get a gun on each bank, as at 

 the first shot they invariably cross to the further side ; but 

 curiously enough they are often singularly stupid when 

 surprised roosting. 



When found in open country they invariably start running, 

 but if you can get ahead of them on a pony, the flock wiU 

 often break up and squat, and provided you have a steady 

 pointer, a good bag can then be made. These occasions 



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