PHASIANID.?^. 371 



the herbage. The sportsman has no chance of 

 getting within reach of them during the day, at 

 least without the assistance of a dog well trained for 

 the purpose ; and even then he must fire very close, 

 so as to kill them on the spot; for if they are only 

 wounded, they run so quickly with a sort of half- 

 flight, that the fleetest Indian cannot overtake them . 

 About sunset, however, they may be assailed with 

 better success, as at that period of the day they 

 betray the place of their retreat by incessant 

 " gobblings,^'' whereby they collect their scattered 

 flocks. When they have all got together, they 

 make their way in perfect silence to their accustomed" 

 roosting-places, where they perch themselves close 

 together lipon the large trees, particularly upon 

 withered boughs or branches stripped of their 

 leaves. When thus perched, so secure do they 

 think themselves, that they are readily approached ; 

 indeed, neither the sight of a man nor the report of 

 a gun seems to cause the slightest feeling of alarm. 

 They will even see their companions fall from their 

 side, killed by an arrow or still more murderous 

 bullet, without stirring from their place. Their only 

 indication of concern is a sort of low murmur, more 

 indicative of surprise than fear ; indeed, they remain 

 so stupidly immoveable, that under these circum- 

 stances they may all be killed one after the other, 

 however numerous. At break of day, the Wild 

 Turkeys make the woods echo with their gobblings, 

 as they call to each other from tree to tree ; but as 

 the sun rises they come down from their perch, and 

 the males, in the breeding season, proceed to display 

 their plumage to the other sex, when fierce battles 

 often take place. 



The most beautiful species of this sub-family, — 

 The Ocellated Turkey {Jleleagris ocellafus), is a native 

 of Honduras, where it does not seem to be very abundant. 

 It is about the size of the common Turkey, but far more 

 splendid in its tints. The typical form is — 

 The Common Turkey (Mekagris Galli-pavo). 



