170 THE GUINEA FOWL. 



THE GUINEA HEN. 

 Synontmes. — Numida meLeagris, of Naturalists ; Pintade, of the 

 French; Pintada, of the Spaniards; Perlhuhn, of the Germans; Come- 

 Back,m Norfoldj England ; Guinea Ben, Guinea Fowl, of the English and 

 Anglo-Americans. 



The plumage of this bird is singularly beautiful, 

 being spangled over with an infinity of white spots on 

 a black ground, shaded with grey and brown. The 

 spots vary from the size of a pea to extreme minute- 

 ness. Rarely, the black and white change places, 

 causing the bird to appear as if covered with a net- 

 work of lace. A white variety is not uncommon, but 

 is less hardy, and it is doubtful how long either this, 

 or the former one, would remain permanent ; probably 

 but for few generations. Pied birds, blotched with 

 patches of white, are frequent, but are not compara- 

 ble, in point of beauty, with those of the original wild 

 color. The head and face are remarkable. The scar- 

 let wattles, naked skin, distinct mark of the eye brow, 

 bright, glancing eyes, and comical, quick expression, 

 make, at a front view, a perfect miniature of a clown, 

 dressed and painted for the circus or pantomime. 



DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE COOK AND HEN. 



It is not every one who knows ,a cock from a hen 

 of this species. An unerring rule is, that the hen 



