The special fact about this bird rests in its color, it being prettily speckled with round white spots on a dark gray color of plumage. There are several species, the best known being the common guinea, which is often called "come-back" from its call. In its wild state it gathers in large flocks and is very shy and hard to get near, while it keeps up most of the time a harsh cry which Latham compares to a door turning on rusty hinges or a wheel on an ungreased axle. In the farm-yard it perches at night in high places and if disturbed rouses up the whole neighborhood by its ceaseless cry.
The eggs of the Guinea-fowl are smaller than those of the hen and rounder in shape. They are of a reddish-white color, and are delicious eating. Many are laid and the female has the habit of hiding her nest until the young are hatched out. The flesh tastes like that of the pheasant, but is rather dry. It was served up at the Roman feasts, and is much liked now by many persons.
It may be further said about this bird that it is at times a nuisance in the poultry yard, for the male guinea has the tendency to attack the other poultry and act the tyrant over them. Another habit is to scrape in the ground like a hen. It also loves to roll in the dust and thus free itself from insects.
Next on our list of home birds is the Swan, one of the most beautiful and graceful of the whole bird race. When afloat, like a winged boat, on the still surface of lake or pond, with its snow-white body and wings and its long, curving neck, it is a thing of beauty which we are all glad to see and enjoy.
The swan may still be found wild, but it has long been tamed and kept as an ornament of lakes and rivers and the broad ponds of country homes. Here it may be seen gliding softly along, with its white wings partly lifted, as if to catch the wind, and its neck gracefully bending as it moves.
In ancient times the swan was called the Bird of Apollo or of Orpheus, and was held to have splendid musical powers, singing most sweetly when it was dying. But this is a fancy of the poets, for the voice of the tame swan has no music in it, being only a sort of hiss, like that of the goose. There is a variety of the bird called the Trumpet Swan, but it is so noisy that few care to keep it. Also in Australia there is a bird called the Singing Swan, with a voice that might be spoken of as a kind of song. Some of these have been brought to Europe, but the common swan has no sort of song, living or dying.