294 
THE POULTRY BOOK. 
weapons, such as spurs or horns, with which the stronger attack and destroy or 
drive away the weaker ; hut the Guinea-fowl, like the partridge, is destitute of 
spurs, and therefore probably is naturally monogamous. 
But whatever may be their habits when roaming wild in the tropical forests of 
Africa or in the Islands of the West Indies, in the artificial state of domestication 
their instincts and habits are greatly changed, and the experience of the best 
breeders tends to show that two hens to one cock is a more advantageous and 
profitable arrangement than keeping the two sexes in equal numbers. 
The cocks may be readily distinguished from the hens by their shrill cry, which 
is quite unlike the constantly-reiterated “comeback,” “ come back,” of the hens, 
and also by a difference in the position of the wattles, which in the males are attached 
to the lower mandible in such a manner as to show the flat side or face forward ; and, 
moreover, they are larger than those of the females. 
Domestication has not effected any very marked changes in the size or general 
structure of these birds ; some few alterations in colour, however, make their appear- 
ance from time to time, and have been propagated by careful breeding. In some 
varieties, the white spots on the feathers are almost entirely absent ; in others, the 
position of the two colours is reversed, the spots being dark, and the general ground 
colour white. A third variety is perfectly white in the plumage ; and a fourth, 
which may be produced by crossing the white and dark breeds, is pied more or 
less regularly with white and dark. 
Cross bred birds between the Guinea-fowl and common fowl are rare ; when pro- 
duced they are true hybrids, being perfectly sterile, and incapable of reproduction 
amongst themselves, or with either of the species from which they were derived. 
It is a singular proof of the proneness of the older naturalists to theorize rather than 
to observe, that no less a celebrated writer than Pallas erroneously attributed the 
singular formation of the skulls of the crested Polish fowls to a cross between the 
common hen and the Guinea-fowl. It is needless to say, such a theory has not 
the slightest foundation in fact, being disproved by the absolute sterility of the 
hybrid between the two species, and also by anatomical research ; the casque or 
helmet of the Guinea-fowl is a mere bony growth, whereas the tuber on the head 
of the Polish fowl is part of the cavity of the skull, and contains a large portion 
of the brain. 
There is one point connected with the Guinea-fowl that still claims our notice, 
namely, the efforts that have been made to naturalize it as a wild bird in this 
country. In the South of England, in warm, dry localities. Guinea-fowls can be 
acclimatised with the greatest ease, by merely removing the eggs from the nest of 
a pheasant and substituting those of the Guinea-fowl, when the eggs will be duly 
hatched out, and the young Guinea-fowl follow the foster-parent. Beared in this 
manner, they become very wild and shy, partaking of all the characters of true 
fercB natures. If left undisturbed during the following season they paiiq and breed 
with freedom, provided the locality be suitable ; but wherever they have been thus 
