A VliS. 
95 
quite maintain the characteristics mentioned by Cavendish. They 
are protected by game-laws, which permit them to be killed, on pay- 
ment of the licence, for six weeks in the summer or autumn of each 
year: and hundreds of them are generally killed during one shooting 
season. They find plenty of covert, and generally make their nests 
in the long tufty fields of cow-grass ( Paspalum scrobiculatum ). There 
is much fear of these beautiful birds being exterminated through 
poaching, which of late years has become common. 
Callus, Temm. 
G. bankiva, Temm. — Common Fowl. Ilab. India. Reared abun- 
dantly in the Island ; and on the high lands exists in a state almost 
as wild as pheasants. The Spanish, large black-and-white Malabar, 
and other breeds are kept. 
Pavo, Linn. 
P. cristatus, Linn. — Pea-Powl. TIab. India. None now remain 
in the Island ; but I include it here because it once existed in a wild 
state. It is said that pea-fowl inhabited the high lands and ridges, 
under cover chiefly of the indigenous plants ; but the farmers found 
them so destructive to their gardens, that they took every opportunity 
of killing them ; consequently, about half a century ago they were 
exterminated. 
Meleagris, Linn. 
M. gallopavo, Linn. — Turkey. Ilab. Mexico. The existence of 
the Turkey in St. Helena dates back as far as 1588.^ Cavendish 
says, “ We found, moreover, in this Island, plenty of Guinea-cocks, 
which we call Turkeys.” 
Numida, Linn. 
N. meleagris, Linn.— Guinea Fowl. Hah. West Africa. Partly 
domesticated and partly wild, having recently been much encouraged 
in the Island, where it inhabits the high land. 
Order Orally. 
Fam. Charadriidce. 
jEgialitis, Boie. 
* TP, sanctse -helenae, Harting. — Charadrius pecuarius, Layard, 
Ibis, 1867, p. 251; Birds S. Africa, p. 297, 1867; Newton, 
Ibis, 1867, p. 251, note; Baker, Zoologist, 1868, p. 1475 ; Melliss, 
Ibis, 1870, p. 104 ; Harting, Ibis, 1873, p. 260. The “ Wire Bird” 
