168 WATtfRALISTY CABINET. 



Whimsical figure. 



greenish grey. The head and throat form the 

 most striking part of this bird's figure. On the 

 head is seen standing up, a thick round crest, 

 made of bristles, spreading every way, and re- 

 sembling rays standing out in different directions. 

 The longest of these rays are about three inches 

 and : anhalf; and they are all topped with a kind 

 of black tassels, which give them a beautiful ap- 

 pearance. The sides of the head and cheeks are 

 bare, whitish, and edged with red, while under- 

 neath the throat hangs a kind of bag or wattle, 

 like that of acock, but not divided into two. To 

 give this odd composition a higher finishing, the 

 eye is large and staring ; the pupil black and big, 

 surrounded with a gold-coloured iris, that .com- 

 pletes the bird's very singular appearance. 



These birds come from the coast of Africa, and 

 the Cape deVerd Islands. Astheyrun,they stretch 

 out their wings and go very swiftly, otherwise their 

 usual motion is very slow. In their domestic 

 state, they walk very deliberately among other 

 poultry, and suffer themselves to be approached 

 by every spectator. They never roost in houses ; 

 but about night, when they are disposed to go to 

 rest, they search out some high wall, on which 

 they perch in the manner of a peacock. Indeed 

 they resemble that bird very much in manners 

 and disposition. But, though their voice and 

 roosting be similar, their food, which is entirely 

 upon greens, vegetables, and barley^ seems to 

 some difference. 



