412 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



generally brought up by Hens or Turkeys. Although bad nurses, 

 their fecundity is very great, and when well-fed they lay as many as 

 i oo 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 as that of the Domestic Fowl. There are now several 

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

 Europe. They are numerous in Arabia, where they are found in 

 little bands composed of a male and several females in the neighbour- 



Fig. 156. — Guinea-fowl. 



hood of marshes. Transported into America after the discovery of 

 that continent, the common variety is perfectly acclimated there, and 

 is even to be found wild in some of the vast forests and savannahs 

 of the West Indies. 



Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are birds of large size, easily 

 distinguished from other gallinacean fowls by the following 

 characteristics :— Bare heads and necks, decorated with fleshy 

 appendages— those of the neck, which fall under the head in 

 front of the bird, are capable of being inflated and much enlarged 

 under the influence of love or anger ; a brush of long and straight 

 hairs hangs at the base of the neck; the tarsi are strong, and 

 provided with slightly-developed spurs; lastly, the tail is round, 



