CHAPTER FORTY ONE.
THE GUINEA-HENS.
Although Swartboy and Congo supped upon the flesh of the waterbuck--which is far from being a delicate venison--the boys had somethingbetter for supper. That was roast fowl, and a very dainty kind of it,quite equal to grouse or partridge. They all supped upon "guinea-hen."
The guinea-fowl (_Numida meleagris_) is a bird that has been long known,and is often mentioned in the works of ancient writers under the names_Meleagris_ and _Gallina Numidica_. It is unnecessary to give adescription of its appearance, as every one is acquainted with thebeautiful pearly plumage of the bird, from which it has obtained thename of pearl-hen--among the Germans Perl-Huhn, and among the Spaniards"Pintado," or spotted hen. The English name "Guinea-hen" is in allusionto the country from which it has been chiefly obtained in modern times.The guinea-fowl is truly a native of Africa--though it is nowdomesticated in almost every country in the world, and has become acommon inhabitant of the farm-yard. In the United States of America,particularly in the Southern States, where the climate exactly suits it,the guinea-hen, or "guinea-chicken," as the bird is there called, is agreat favourite, both as a bird for the table and a layer of eggs; andcertainly the flesh of the young pullet is much more delicate andsavoury than that of the common fowl.
In many of the West India islands, the guinea-hen, although introducedfrom Africa, has become wild, and in the forests of Jamaica it is huntedand shot like other game. In these islands the species propagates veryrapidly; and where the birds become numerous they do great mischief tothe crops of the planters. On this account they are often hunted, notto be served up at the table, but for the purpose of exterminating themas troublesome pests.
Throughout all Africa, its native country, the guinea-fowl exists; butit is to be remarked that there is more than one species. The commonguinea-fowl (_Numida meleagris_) is the best known, and in its wildstate differs very little from the domesticated variety. The latter,however, frequently varies in colour, and some are seen with very littleof the blue tint upon their feathers and almost without spots. This,however, is the usual law of wild birds when produced underdomestication, as ducks, turkeys, geese, and all the other pets of thefarm, fully demonstrate. Even when left to herself, nature often"sports" in this way, and we know of no bird or animal of which"albinos" may not be at some time observed.
In addition to the common guinea-fowl, a second species is well known toexist in the Southern parts of the African continent. This is the"crested guinea-fowl," (_Numida cristata_). It is not quite so large asthe common kind, and has other differences. It is of a darker bluecolour, but spotted like its congener, each feather having from four tosix spots upon it. The quills are yellowish brown, but the edges of thesecondaries are of a pure white, which contrasts prettily with the darkcolouring of the general plumage.
But the most conspicuous difference between the two species is in theformation of the crown and cheeks. As is well known, over the bill ofthe common guinea-fowl rises a singular warty membrane like a casque,while two carunculated wattles hang from the lower mandible. Both theseappendages are wanting in the _Numida cristata_; but in place of thehard casque, the head of this species is ornamented with a crest ofloose hair-like feathers of a bluish-black, which adds very much to theelegant appearance of the bird.
The guinea-hens are gregarious and sometimes immense flocks of them areseen together. They spend most of their time upon the ground, but theyalso take to trees when startled, and roost upon the branches. Theirfood consists of seeds, berries, and soft slugs.
While the boys were discussing what they should have for supper, a flockof these beautiful crested creatures came chattering across the openmeadow in which was the camp. Of course the shot-guns were immediatelyput in requisition, and several of the party got ready to go after them.
Now it is not so very easy to get a shot at the wild guinea-hens. Theyare no great flyers, and do not take to the wing when pursued, unlesswhen close pressed by a dog or some other swift animal. But a man onfoot is no match for them, as they run very swiftly where the ground iseven. They are shy, moreover; and it is not without difficulty that ashot can be had. There is one way, however, of approaching themsuccessfully. A dog should be set after them, precisely in the samemanner as though they were rabbits, hares, or any other smallquadrupeds. The dog of course being swift enough to overtake them, sooncomes up, and the guinea-fowls are then forced to take wing. But, asthey are greatly disinclined to a long flight, they soon settle downagain, or, what is more likely, perch upon the branches of the nearesttree. The dog then runs up to the tree; and, if well-trained, willcommence barking, and continue so till the sportsman approaches withinshot. The birds upon the tree have no fear of the dog below--knowingvery well that he cannot climb up to them--but, while their attention isoccupied with him, they pay no heed to their more dangerous enemy thegunner, who can then easily approach within range, and take aim at hisleisure.
Now this mode of hunting the guinea-fowl was well known to the youngyagers; and as one of their dogs had been trained to it, they took himalong, and commenced the pursuit with every confidence that they wouldeat roast fowl for supper.
They were not disappointed. The birds were soon after sprung, and thentreed; and the barking of the dog conducted the gunners to the spotwhere the game had taken roost, among the branches of some"cameel-doorn" trees near the bank of the river. Several shots wereobtained; and three brace and a half were brought into camp--enough toserve not only for supper, but also for breakfast on the followingmorning.
It seemed to be quite a place for birds; for while there, many otherspecies were observed by the young hunters. A great many curious plantsgrew in the neighbourhood, the seeds of which served many kinds forfood; besides, from the proximity of the river many flies and otherinsects were produced, the prey of numerous shrikes and other birds ofthe family of _Muscicapidae_.
Hans pointed out a very singular bird that was flying about the meadow,and was every now and then uttering a note that sounded like the word"edolio." From this note the bird derives its name, just as in Englandthe "cuckoo" is named from its peculiar call, and in France "coucou."
Now the _edolio_ of South Africa is also a cuckoo; and althoughdiffering from our cuckoo in some respects, it has a great resemblanceto it in others. It has the same parasite peculiarity of depositing itseggs in the nests of other birds, and leaving them to be hatched there;and its other habits are very similar to those of the common cuckoo.
But there are some very curious points in the history of the "edolio,"which it does not share with its European congener. Among the boors ofSouth Africa it is known as the "New year's day bird," (Niuwe jaarsvogel,) and these simple people ascribe to it some wonderfulcharacteristics. They say that it appears only at the beginning of theyear--whence the name "new year's day bird"--and that whenever it ishungry it commences to cry out, and then all the little birds in theimmediate neighbourhood fly towards it, carrying food, which they giveit to eat!
Now all the young yagers, as well as Congo the Kaffir and Swartboy theBushman, were well acquainted with this story; and all, with theexception of Hans, believed it to be true. Hans, however, knew theexplanation of the marvellous matter, and proceeded to give it to hiscompanions.
He stated that the bird known among the farmers as the _Niuwe jaarsvogel_, was no other than the young of the "edolio" (_Cuculusserratus_)--though the farmers would not believe this, because, althoughfull fledged, it differs a good deal from the parent birds both in sizeand colour, and is therefore taken for a distinct kind. That themystery of its appearing always on the first day of the year, was scarcea fable after all, as it was _about_ that time that young edoliosobtained their full feathers, and commenced flying about. That thefurther statement, of its crying out when hungry, was perfectly true;but that _all_ the small birds in the neighbourhood were summoned by itscry, was not correct, although _some_ would be, viz: the step-mother andfather that had brought it
into life; and that these having been oftenseen in the act of feeding the young edolio had given origin to thefable. This was certainly a very good explanation.
Hans further stated that a similar belief existed among the natives ofIndia, in relation to the large-billed cuckoo, (_Eudynamis orientalis_),and that the belief had a similar origin.
"The edolio," continued Hans, "like the cuckoo, deposits its eggs in thenest of many species of small birds; and that it places them there withits beak, and not in the ordinary way, has been satisfactorilydetermined by naturalists."