416 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
is its horror of red; the sight of a scarlet object throws it into the 
most comical fury. It is needless for us to vaunt the flesh of the 
Domestic Turkey ; every one is agreed on this subject. We will only 
say that, from the testimony of many travellers and naturalists, the 
flesh of a Wild Turkey, killed in winter or spring, before laying, is far 
superior to that of the domestic bird, those coming from Southern 
Indiana and Illinois being considered by Americans as the finest. 
The Turkey, being indigenous to America, was naturally unknown to 
the ancients. ‘The precise date of its introduction into France is not 
recorded. According to some, it was at the end of the fifteenth 
century; to others, only at the commencement of the sixteenth. 
Anderson affirms that the first Turkeys raised and eaten in France 
were served at the marriage of Charles I1X., in 1570. 
The Honduras or Ocellated Turkey (AZeleagris ocellata) is one of 
the most beautiful gallinaceans ; its plumage is magnificent ; the tail 
is enamelled with large blue eyes, each of which is surrounded with a 
circle of brilliant yellow and purple. It inhabits the country sur- 
rounding the Bay of Honduras, Southern Mexico, and all Central 
America. At Regent’s Park Gardens, London, is to be seen a 
splendid hybrid, bred between the American Wild Turkey and the 
Honduras species. 
The family of Pavonidz comprehends the genera Pavo cristatus 
(Fig. 158), Lavo Javanicus, Polypletrons, and Lophophores. ‘The 
feature which essentially distinguishes Peacocks from other Galli- 
naceans is the immense tail which they possess. This appendage, 
formed of long, large, and tufted feathers, coloured with the richest 
shades, is capable of being raised up like that of a Turkey. When 
we contemplate this magnificent ornament, in which purple and 
gold vie with the most varying colours of the emerald, and notice 
the innumerable and brilliant eyes with which it is studded ; when 
with delight we view the bird’s lofty stature, elegant shape, noble 
carriage, crowned with the emblem of royalty, we cannot help being 
struck with admiration. ‘The Peacock was known from the earliest 
time ; for it is mentioned in the Bible as one of the most precious 
products brought from Asia by King Solomon’s ships. It made its 
first appearance in Greece after Alexander’s expedition into India. 
Alexander, it is said, was so astonished at the sight of this bird that 
he forbade it to be killed under the severest penalties. For a long 
time they were very rare, and fetched a high price at Athens, and the 
people from the neighbouring towns assembled in crowds to see 
them. From the Greeks they passed to the Romans ; but this nation, 
more fond of what gratified the palate than the eye, soon made them 
