WILD TURKEY. 



219 



speckled Turkey, is unknown ; and we may venture to say, that a plain 

 black one has hardly ever occurred. 



Moehring proposed the name of Cynchramus for this genus, as the 

 term Meleagris was used by the ancients to indicate a different bird : 

 all other naturalists have agreed with Linnd, who, though fully aware 

 of the fact, made use of the name we have adopted. But he included 

 in the genus two allied species, which Gmelin very properly rejected, 

 and placed in a separate genus, which he called Penelope, considering 

 the Tui'key as sui geyieris. Latham again rendered the genus unnatu- 

 ral, by restoring one of the objectionable Linnean species, perceiving that 

 it was not properly placed in Penelope ; it is, in truth, a Phasianus. 

 As now characterized, the present genus is exclusively American ; and, 

 by the discovery of a beautiful species closely allied to that of the 

 United States, it now consists of two species. The Ocellated Turkey 

 {Meleagris oculata) inhabits Honduras, and may be distinguished from 

 the common species by its smaller size, more brilliant plumage, and 

 principally by having ocellated spots on the tail. It was first described 

 by Cuvier, and has lately been figured in that magnificent periodical 

 work, the "Planches Colorizes" of Temminck and Laugier. A beauti- 

 ful specimen has long been exhibited in the Charleston Museum. 



Mr. Duponceau, so well known by his philological researches, has favored us with 

 tlie following table of names for the Wild Turkey, in the different Indian languages: 



E. English Pronunciation. — F. French. — S. Spanish. — G. German. 



Algonkin Mississay, E 



Adayes Owachuk, S 



Atacapas Skillig, S 



Caddoes Noe, E 



Chetimachas .... Tsante hatineche hase, S. 



Cherokee Kainna ; Oocoocoo, E. . 



Chickasaws Fukit, E. . . 



Choctaws Oopuh, E. . . 



Creeks Pinewau, E. 



Delaware proper . . . Tschikenum, G. 



Delaware of New Jersey Tshikuuna, E. . 



Delaware of New Sweden Sickenem (Swedish) 



Huron Ondetontak, F. . 



Wyandot (same people) . Daigh-ton-tah, E. 



Illinois Pireouah, F. 



Knisteneaux . . , . Mes-sey-thew, E. 



Miamis Pilauoh . . . 



Nenticoke Pahquun, E. 



Nottoway* Kunum, E. . . 



Mackenzie. 



MS. Voc. 



MS. Voc. 



Dr. Sibley. 



MS. Voc. 



MS. Voc. 



MS. Voc. 



MS. Voc. 



MS. Voc. 



Heckewelder and Zeis- 



berger. 

 MS. Voc. 



Luther's Catechism. 

 Pfere Sagard. 

 Attwater in Archseol. 



Amer. 

 MS. Voc. 

 Mackenzie. 

 MS. Voc. 

 MS. Voc. 

 MS. Voc. 



Indians of Virginia, a branch of the Tuscaroras. 



