Mr. H. E. Dresser on the Birds of Southern Texas. 25 



I have seen one fight at the Matamoras cockpit ; and it certainly 

 showed as much pluck as the ordinary cocks, and, at the same 

 time, was far more sprightly and quick in its movements. I was 

 unable to procure a specimen of the hybrid ; in fact I only saw 

 it on one occasion, in the public cockpit. 



1 kept a tame Chiacalacca at Matamoras ; but, like my Paisano, 

 he got too familiar, for I could not keep him out of the room. 

 He would often go away for a day and pay a visit to the poultry 

 belonging to a neighbour ; and I once lost him for four days, 

 eventually finding him in the possession of some Mexicans, who 

 refused to give him up ; but I took him forcibly away from the 

 man who held him, and, finding that I intended to have my own 

 way, they let me go off with him unmolested. He was eventually 

 lost during my absence, in the confusion when Cortinas took 

 Matamoras — which was vexing, as I intended to have sent him 

 to England by some steamer going direct to Liverpool. On my 

 return to Matamoras — late in July 186J), it was too late to obtain 

 the eggs of this bird, as early in August I saw young birds ex- 

 posed in the market for sale. 



The habits of my bird were very similar to those of the com- 

 mon Fowl ; and whenever I missed him I had only to go to a 

 poultry-yard near our house, and generally found him there. 



Meleagrts gallopavo, Linnaeus. Wild Turkey. 



Common in all parts of Texas and Mexico that I visited, particu- 



tion, but I must say that I have a good deal of faith in the informatiou I 

 got. Not merely one or two, but many Mexicans, on whose word I think 

 I can place some reliance, assiured me of the truth of what I have above 

 said. I made many inquiries respecting these hybrids, and was told that 

 the cross is always between the male Ortalida and the female of the 

 Common Fowl. The only example I saw seemed a bird very likely to 

 have had such an origin. O. maccalli in its habits bears a much closer 

 resemblance to our domestic poultry than its appearance would at first 

 lead one to suppose. I blame myself very much for not having got at the 

 bottom of this interesting question ; but during my short stay at Mata- 

 moras I was so very much engaged with business, that I put off doing so 

 to a futiu'e opportunity ; and when I returned thither it was only en route 

 homeward. My own tame bird, mentioned in the text, consorted fre- 

 quently with the poultry, and though young I have seen him making 

 amorous advances to the hens. 



