48. MELEAOEIS. 391 



3. Meleagris ocellata. 



The Turkey, Pennant, Phil. Trans. Ixxi. p. 79 (1781) [part., Yuca- 

 tan]. 



Meleagris ocellata, Cuv. Mem. Mas. d'JIist. Nut. vi. p. 1, pi. i. 

 (1820) [Gulf of Honduras]; Temm. PI. Col. v. pi. 1(J [no. 112] 

 (1824) ; Less. Traite cCOrn. p. 490 (1831) ; Jard. Nat. Lib., Orn. 

 iii. p. 143, pi. iii. (183*5); Cabot, P. Bost. Sor. i. p. 73 (1842); 

 id. J. BiMt. Soc. iv. p. 246 (1842) [part.]; Grai/, List of B. 

 pt. iii. Gull. p. 29 (1844) ; Sdat. ^- Salo. Ibis, 18o9, p. 225 ; 

 Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. G2 [Belize, Peten] ; Tai/lor, Ibis, 18G0, 

 p. 311 ; Sclaf. P. Z. S. 18G1, p. 402, pi. xl, & 1863, p. 125; Grat/, 

 Lv^t Gallince Brit. Mas. p. 42 (1867) ; id. Haml-l. B. ii. p. 262 

 (1870) ; Elliot, Mon. Phas. i. pi. 33 (1872) ; Boticard, P. Z. S. 

 1883, p. 461 [Yucatau]; Eidaw. Man. N. Amer. B. p. 207 

 (1887). 



Meleagx-is aureus, Vieill. Tabl. Encycl. Meth. i. p. 361 (1823). 



Adult male. Feathers of the mantle, scapulars, and chest have 

 the basal half black, the terminal half brass-green shading into 

 purplish black towards the extremity, margined by a narrow dark 

 black line and fringed with greenish copper. On the lower back 

 and rump the basal parts of the feathers are finely mottled with 

 white, their extremities gradually increase in brilliance and the 

 margins in width till on the upper tail-coverts and tail the colours 

 attain their greatest magnificence ; here the brass-green of the 

 mantle is replaced by brilliant greenish-blue bands changing to purple 

 and forming subtcrminal ocelli on the tail-feathers ; the wide margins 

 are rich copper-red with green reflections. The lesser and median 

 wing-coverts are mostly golden green with shades of dark blue and 

 narrow black margins ; the greater secondary-coverts reddish copper 

 shot with golden green and purple and shading into greenish gold 

 towards the ends of the inner webs. Primaries, bastard-wing, and 

 primary- coverts brownish black barred with white, widest on the 

 outer webs of the inner quills ; bastard secondary with the outer 

 ■wob uniform brown, rest with the outer web mostly white, the 

 dark bars being confined to the part next the quiU ; inner webs of 

 all dark brown barred with white : the outermost secondaries have 

 the dark bars glossed with metallic golden green. Breast and belly 

 black, with copper-red margins to the feathers ; flanks and under 

 tail-covorts like the lower back. Head and neck covered with 

 naked blue skin, scarlet round the eye, and ornamented with small 

 red wart-like wattles, the largest situated between the eyes ; the 

 erectile process on the forehead blue with red warts at the tip. 

 liill, legs, and feet red ; the tarsus armed with a long stout sharp 

 spur. Total length ca. 40 incl»ps, wing 16-5, tail 13o, tarsus 5 5. 



Adult female resembles the male ; but the plumage is not so 

 brilliant and the ocelli at the ends of the tail-feathers are much 

 reduced. The erectile process is very small, and the great spurs 

 are represented by small wart -like knobs. Total length ca. 33 

 inches, wing 142, tail 13-1, tarsus 4-4. 



JJab. CoutralAmcrica; Guatemala, Yucatan, andBritishHonduras. 



