286 MELEAGRIDAZ.—PHASIANID A. 
gastrei plumis reliquis nigris, cuprescenti-rubro marginatis; capite et collo nudis cwruleis, et papillis 
magnis rubris ornatis ; regione oculari scarlatina ; carancula frontali nuda cerulea. Long. tota circa 
33°0, alee 14°2, caudex 13:1, tarsi 4°4. 
Q mari similis, sed vix ita vivide colorata, rectricum ocellis metallicis minoribus. Long. tota circa 33°0, ale 
14:2, caude 13:1, tarsi 4-4. (Descr. maris et femine ex Peten. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Mexico, Buctzotz, Merida, Espita, and Valladolid, Yucatan (Gawmer 1°); 
British Honpuras (Mus. Paris), Western district (Blancaneaux 1), Belize (Ley- 
land ®, Taylor®); GuaTemMaLa, Yasha, Peten (0. S."). 
This beautiful Turkey, known to the Spaniards as “ Pavo real del monte,” is an 
inhabitant of the hot forests of Yucatan, its range extending into British Honduras, 
where the species is well known to the mahogany-cutters, and it reaches also to the 
neighbourhood of Peten in Guatemala. In Northern Yucatan, where the bird has been 
much persecuted on account of the excellence of its flesh, it is now by no means 
common and is very wary, at all events in the more frequented districts. Dr. Gaumer, 
who has resided for many years in Yucatan and has made a special study of the habits 
of MW. ocellata, says that there is a district about ten leagues to the north and east of 
Valladolid, which was depopulated by the migration of the Indians some fifty years ago, 
where he found this Turkey fairly abundant. Salvin, during his short stay at Peten in 
1862, obtained but a single specimen, killed by one of his hunters, and an excellent 
account of this expedition is given in Elliot’s work 9. Mr. Maudslay, who visited Peten 
some years later to investigate the ruins on the island of Floresin the lake, had several 
brought him by the Indians; and he also tells me that when at Cayo, on the Belize River, 
he saw several hybrids between this and the domestic bird reared by M. Blancaneaux. 
It was from Peten, too, that Robert Owen brought the living specimens which he after- 
wards presented to the Zoological Society’s Gardens in the Regent’s Park in 18617 *. 
Dr. Gaumer says’° that during the breeding-season, which is in May and June, the 
male makes a peculiar drumming noise, very deep and sonorous, after which it utters a 
cry resembling the rapid pecking of a distant Woodpecker or the croaking of a bull-frog. 
In Merida skins are sold at from one to two dollars each and living birds at from eight 
to ten. The eggs are similar to those of our domestic bird, but are somewhat smaller. 
Fam. PHASIANIDE, 
In this family are classed all the true Pheasants and Partridges of the Old World 
and the so-called Partridges of America. The latter, however, constitute a separate 
subfamily. The nostrils in the Phasianide are always exposed, the tarsi and toes 
are bare, thus differing from the Grouse, which have the legs feathered, and there is 
generally a well-developed spur on the tarsus of the male. 
* See P. Z. 8. 1861, p. 403, t. 40. 
