Meleagrides

The sisters of Meleager, daughters of the Aetolian ruler Oeneus. They lamented the death of their brother unceasingly, until Artemis changed them — with the exception of Deianeira and Gorge — into guinea hens (numida meleagris), which were then transferred to the island of Leros. The squeaky cackling of these birds was taken to represent mourning, and they were prohibited from being eaten by devotees of Artemis.

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