290 
THE POULTRY BOOK. 
and it is left. The fowls eat the medicated food eagerly, and are soon found 
reeling about intoxicated, unable to escape, and content with thrusting their head 
into a corner. Frequently a large part of the flock are found dead from this cause. 
Though savoury, and in high request for the table, the Guinea-fowl sometimes 
acquires an insufferably rank odour, from feeding on the fetid Petiveria alliacea, 
and is then uneatable. 
“ The eggs are deposited in the midst of a dense tussock of grass, to the 
amount of a dozen or more. It is said that occasionally the number is greatly 
higher, and that they are laid stratum super stratum, with leaves between. If 
this is true, probably more than one hen participates in the maternity. The 
wild bird’s egg measures 1-^q by IJ of an inch, and weighs six drachms one 
scruple.” 
Martin gives the following very correct account of their habits : — 
The common Guinea-fowl, the Gallina di Numidia of the Italians, PouU de 
Guinee and Peintade of the French, Pintado of the Spanish, and Perlhuhn of the 
Germans, frequents the open glades and borders of forests, the banks of rivers, 
and other localities where grain, seeds, berries, insects, &c., offer an abundant 
supply of food. It is gregarious in its habits, associating in considerable flocks, 
which wander about during the day, and collect together on the approach of 
evening. They roost in clusters on the branches of trees or large bushes, ever 
and anon uttering their harsh grating cry, till they settle fairly for the night. 
The Guinea-fowl does not trust much to its wings as a means of escape from 
danger ; indeed, it is not without some difficulty that these birds can be forced to 
take to flight, and then they wing their way only to a short distance, when they 
alight, and trust to their swiftness of foot. They run with very great celerity, are 
shy and wary, and seek refuge amongst the dense underwood, threading the mazes 
of their covert with wonderful address. The female incubates in some concealed 
spot on the ground. 
It appears likely that the ancient Greeks and Komans were well acquainted with 
the Guinea-fowl, yet it is not easy to trace out its history. In fact, strange as it 
may seem that a bird noticed by Aristotle, Clytus, Pliny, Varro, and Columella, 
should not, ages since, have pervaded Europe, it was not until after we had received 
the turkey, that the Guinea-fowl became naturalized in Western Europe. Its 
name does not occur amongst the list of birds appointed to be served up at the 
famous feast of Archbishop Neville, in the reign of Edward the Fourth. It does 
not appear in the Duke of Northumberland’s Household Book (1512), nor is it 
alluded to in the Household Book of Henry the Eighth. Hence we must pardon 
Belon and Aldrovandus for considering the turkey as the Meleagris of the ancients, 
as it seems that they did not know the Guinea-fowl. From ancient times, through 
the middle ages, and to a comparatively recent period, all trace of this bird is lost. 
This bird is, indeed, so common in America and several of the West India islands, 
that some have thought it to be indigenous there ; but in an old work {Ohserv. sur 
les Cotes de VAsie) we are informed that, in the year 1508, or about that time. 
