THE HOKDUJiAS TURKEY. 401 



doubtful ; but gallant chanticleer has never been cliargecl either with fear or folly, and 

 yet you have only to take him from his perch, place him on the table by candlelight, 

 hold his beak down to the table, and draw a line with chalk from it, so as to catch his 

 eye, and there tlie bird will remain spell-bound, till a bystander rubbing out the line, or 

 diverting his attention from it, breaks the charm. IMany a fowl have we thus fascinated 

 in our boj-ish da)'s." 



These birds are extremely furious among themselves, and yet among other animals 

 the}' are often weak and cowardly. The domestic cock often keeps them at a distance, and 

 the turkeys seldom venture to attack him but with united force, when the cock is rather 

 oppressed by their weight than annoyed by their weapons. Instances, however, have 

 occurred in which the turkey-cock has not been found wanting in prowess. A gentleman 

 of New York received from a distance a turkey-cock and hen, and a pair of bantams, 

 which he put into his yard with other poultry. Some time afterwards, as he was feeding 

 them from the barn-door, a large hawk suddenl}- turned the corner of the barn, and made 

 a pitch at the bantam-hen. She immediately gave the alarm, by a noise which is natural 

 to her on such occasions ; when the turkey-cock, who was at the distance of about two 

 j'ards, and no doubt was aware of the hawk's intentions and of the imminent danger of 

 his old acquaintance, flew at the tyrant with such violence, and gave him so severe a 

 stroke with his spurs when about to seize his prey, as to knock him from the hen to a 

 considerable distance ; and the timely aid of the faithful defender saved the bantam from 

 being devoured. 



The females lay their eggs in the spring, generally in some retired and obscure place ; 

 for the cock, enraged at the loss of his mate, while she is engaged in the process of 

 incubation, is apt otherwise to break them. The female birds sit on their eggs with so 

 much perseverance, that, if not taken away, they will almost perish with hunger before 

 they will entirely leave the nest. 



A singular deviation from instinct occurred in the case of a turke3-cock in Sweden. 

 The female turkey was sitting on eggs ; and as the cock in her absence appeared 

 uneasy and dejected, he was put into the place with her. He immediately sat down by 

 her side ; and it was soon found that he had taken some eggs from under her, which he 

 covered very carefully. The eggs were put back, but he soon afterwards took them 

 again. This induced the owner, by way of exijoriment, to have a nest made, and as 

 many eggs put into it as it was thought the cock coidd conveniently cover. The bird 

 seemed in consequence highly pleased ; he sat with great patience on the eggs, and was 

 so attentive to the hatching of them, as scarcely to aflbrd himself time to take the food 

 necessary for his support. At the usual period, twenty-eight )oung ones were produced ; 

 and the cock, who was in some measure the parent of this numerous offspring, appeared 

 perplexed on seeing so many little creatures picking around him, and requiring his care. 

 It was, however, not thought proper to intrust him with the rearing of the brood ; they 

 were, therefore, taken away, and brought up by other means. 



THE HONDURAS TURKEY.* 



This bird is in size nearly that of the common turkey, but the tail is not so much 

 developed ; it is probable that the bii-d can spread it, but this has not yet been satis- 

 factorily ascertained. 



All the lower part of the body is a bronze-green, with two terminal bands, the first 

 black, and the last, or that next to the tip, of a golden bronze hue. The tints on the 

 other parts of the back are the same, but near the tail-coverts they are more vivid, the 

 bronze becoming of a rich blue, or emerald- green, according to the incidence of the light, 



* Meleagris Ocellfvta. 



2 o 



