G U I 
delicate fliape of the one, and the bare head cf the 
other. It is about the fize of the connmon hen, 
but it's legs and neck are much longer; the body 
is floped like that of the partridge; the colour is 
a dark grey, beautifully fpotted with fmall fpecks 
of white; a black ring encircles the neck; the 
head, which is reddifli, has on it's top a hard 
horny protuberance of a brownifh colour; the 
fpace under the eyes is blue; and a red flefhy ap- 
pendage proceeds from the upper chap, fomewhat 
refembling the wattles of a cock. 
This bird is well known all over Europe, par- 
ticularly among the nations which border on the 
Mediterranean and the coaft of Africa. In diffe- 
rent countries it has obtained different names: 
fom.e call it theBarbary hen ; and others, the Tamis 
bird, and the bird of Numidia. It was probably 
firfl: imported from Guinea to Britain; and there- 
fore receives it's name from the place of it's nati- 
vity. 
Thefe birds, v/hich are naturally gregarious, 
breed up their young in common, the females 
tending the brood of others with as much affi- 
duity as their own. They thrive very well in this 
climate; but it is almofi: impoflible to render them 
fo tame and domeftic as the generality of Englifh 
fowls. The females alfo are lefs careful wit'n re- 
. fpeft to the bufmefs of hatching and rearing their 
biood than any other birds of the gallinaceous 
kind; for which reafon it has been found expe- 
dient to place the eggs of the Guinea-fowl under 
the common hen, whole maternal attention is in- 
variablv exerted to prote6t v/hatever is committed 
to her care. The young Guinea-fowls are very 
beautiful, appearing like lb many partridges; their 
beaks and legs are red ; and their whole plumage 
is of the colour of that of partridges. Though 
the eggs of the Guinea-Hen be occafionally re- 
moved from the neft, yet if care be taken always 
to leave one, fhe will continue to lay till flie has 
depofited a hundred, or a hundred and fifty; 
which, as well as the flefli, are reckoned falubrious 
and agreeable food. 
This bird is very fprightly, a6live, and of a reft- 
lefs and turbulent difpofition. It runs very fwiftly, 
after the manner of the quail and the partridge ; 
but it's wings are Ihort, and ill adapted for flight: 
hov/ever, it does not refide among other domeftic 
fov/ls, but afcends fome houfe or tree, where it 
imagines itfelf beyond the reach of danger. It's 
cry is fharp and difagreeable ; it's quarrelfome dif- 
pofition keeps it in continual warfare, unlels it is 
allov/ed to rule the yard ; and it's agility, joined to 
the fliarpnefs of it's beak, generally fecure it the 
vi£lory over every opponent. 
The Guinea-FIen, or, as it is frequently called, 
the Pintada, is fb very common in America, that 
many have fuppofed it to be a native of the New 
World; but this is certainly an erroneous conjec- 
ture: the origin of thefe birds is in Guinea, where 
they are found, in fiocks of feveral hundreds toge- 
, ther, perching on trees, and feeding on worms and 
grafhoppers. They were firfl: imported into Ame- 
rica in 1 508, with fbme cargoes of negro flaves. 
The Spaniards, neither then, nor at any fucceed- 
ing period, have attempted to render them do- 
meftic; but they flill continue wild in the favan- 
nahs, where they have increafed fo prodigioufly, 
that they may naturally enough appear to be na- 
tives. 
GUINEA-PIG; the Mvs Porcellus of Lin- 
naeus. 'f\m animal, which fonne naturalifts call 
the common cavy, is a native of the warmer cli- 
mates; but has (b long been domeflicated, and fo 
widely diffufed, that it is now become general in 
every part of the world. Fev^ are unacquainted 
with the figure of this little animal: in fome places 
it is regarded as a particular favourite; and is often 
known even to lupplant the lap-dog. It is fiiiailer 
than the rabbit; it's legs are confiderably fiiorter, 
indeed they are fcarcely feen except when the crea- 
ture moves; it's neck alfo is fb fnorr, that it's head 
feems affixed to it's flioulders ; it's ears are fhorr, 
thin, and tranfparent; it's hair is like that of a 
fucking-pig; and it has not even the leaft veftige 
of a tail. In other refpefts, it bears fome refem- 
blance to the rabbit. When it moves, it's body- 
lengthens like that animal; and, when at reft, it 
contrafts it's form in the fame manner. It's nofe 
is furniflied with the rabbic-lip, except that it's 
noftrils are much farther apart. Like all other 
anim.als which have been reduced to fubjedion 
and taken under human prote6lion, it's colour 
varies; in fome it is white; in fome red; and, in 
others, fpeckled. It ftroaks it's head with it's 
fore-feet like the rabbit; and, like it, fits on it's 
hind-legs ; but it differs again from that animal ia 
the number of it's toes, having four on the fore- 
feet, and only three on the hind. 
Thefe animals are, of all others, the moft help- 
lefs and inoffenfive, fcarcely poffeffing fufficient 
courage to defend themfelves from the moufe, the 
mcaneft of all quadrupeds: their only anim.ofities 
are exerted againft- each other; and in fuch conflifls 
they will often fight with great obftinacy and per- 
feverance: but againft all other aggreffors their 
only remedy is patience, non-refiftance, or flight. 
It is therefore fomewhat wonderful how they caa 
proteil themfelves in a favage ftate, fince they have 
neither ftrength, fwiftnefs, nor even the natural in- 
ftinfts of felf-prefervation, obfervable in other ani- 
mals of almoft every defcription. In a domeftic 
ftate, indeed, they owe their fafety folcly to the un- 
ceafing proteftion of the human race : they mufl 
be conftantly attended, guarded from the feveritv of 
the brumal cold, and fecured from the attacks of 
other domeftic animals, which are apt to infuk 
them on every occafion. Such indeed is their 
ft'upidity, that they fuffer cats to devour them vmh - 
out refiftance; and, different from all other crea- 
tures, the female beholds her young deftroyed, 
without once attempting to fave them. 
The favourite food of Guinea-Pigs is bran, 
parfiey, or cabbage-leaves ; but there are fcarcely 
any vegetables cultivated in Englifh gardens which 
they will not readily eat. The carrot-top feems 
a peculiar dainty; and thofe who are ftudious to 
preferve the health of thefe anim.als, fliould often 
vary their food ; for, when fubfifted on a kind eithe? 
too fucculent or too dry, the effects are quicldy 
vifible on their conftitutions. When fed with re- 
cent vegetables, they fcldom drink ; but it often 
happens that, infpired by nature, they feek drier 
food when the former dilagrees with them : they 
then gnaw cloaths, paper, or whatever dry fub- 
ftances they meet with ; and, on thefe occafions, 
they arc oblerved to drink, which they do by lap- 
ping. They are particularly fond of a beverage 
of new milk; but, in cafes of ncceiTity, arefatisfied 
with water. 
Their motion is performed like that of rabbits, 
though much lefs fwiftly; and, when confined in 
a room, they feldom crofs the floor, but generally 
keep clofe to the wall. The male commonly 
drives 
