Ornithology of Central America. 225 



to be its sole " habitat/* though there is strong reason to beheve 

 that the specimens procured by Mr. Skinner were obtained from 

 the neighbouring mountain, 'elVolcan deAgua.' From careful 

 inquix'ies made at Duenas of Indians who were acquainted 

 with the bird^ it would appear that the belt of forest which 

 encircles each of these volcanos between the elevations of 7000 

 and 11,000 feet above the sea-level is its natural home, where it 

 is constantly resident. The characteristic tree of this forest- 

 region is the celebrated Hand-plant of the Mexicans {Chiro- 

 stemon platano'ides) — ' la Mano del Mico ' (the Monkey's Hand) 

 of the Spaniards, which there grows luxuriantly. Whether or 

 not the Oreophasis occurs in the volcanos of Atitlan and the 

 Altos, remains yet to be investigated ; but, as all these and also 

 the smaller cone of Pacaya present corresponding physical fea- 

 tures to those of Agua and Fuego, it is not at all improbable 

 that it may also be found in these mountains. 



There appears to be no distinctive name for this bird ; among 

 the natives, however, it is known as the Turkey with the red 

 head ('el Pavo con la cabeza colorada'). 



Fam. 11. PHASIANIDiE. 



320. Meleagris ocellata, Temm. PI. Col. 112. 



This Turkey seems entirely confined in its range to the 

 country included between the base of the Great Cordillera and 

 the Atlantic, of which the promontory of Yucatan occupies the 

 greater portion. From all accounts, the little-known district, of 

 which the Lake of Peten forms the chief feature, is its head- 

 quarters; and there it would appear to be of not unfrequent 

 occurrence. It seems almost unknown to the natives of the 

 Republic of Guatemala ; but the inhabitants of Belize, who have 

 connection with the mahogany-cuttings, have more or less infor- 

 mation respecting it. The Spanish name is ' Pavo real,' or, more 

 properly, ' Pavo real del monte ' (Wild Tm'key). 



Fam. III. PERDICIDtE. 



321. Ortyx nigrigularis, Gould, Mon. Odont.pl. 4. 

 Yucatan (Cabot) : pine-ridges of Behze (Leyland). 



