C94 PHEASANTS. 



themselves close together upon the larg-e trees, particularly upon 

 withered boughs or branches stripped of their leaves. When 

 thus perched, so secure do they think themselves, that they are 

 readily approached ; indeed, neither the sight of a man nor the 

 report of a gun seems to cause the slightest feeling of alarm. 

 They will even see their companions fall from their side, killed 

 j^by an arrow or still more murderous bullet, without stirring from 

 their place. Their only indication of concen"! is a sort of low 

 murmur, more indicative of surprise than fear ; indeed, they re- 

 main so stupidly immoveable, that under these circumstances 

 they may all be killed one after the other, however numerous. 

 At break of day the wild turkeys make the woods echo with their 

 gobblings, as they call to each other from tree to tree ; but as the 

 sun rises they come down from their perch, and the males, in the 

 breeding season, proceed to display their plumage to the other 

 sex, when fierce battles often take place. 



The most beautiful species of this sub-family — 



The Ocellated Turkey {Meleagris oceHaius), is a native of Honduras, 

 where it docs not seem to be very abundant. It is about the size of the 

 common turkey, but far more splendid in its tints. The typical form is — 



The Common Turkey {Meleagris GalH-pavo). 



Sitb-Faniily V. 

 TIIE MONAULS. LOPIIOPHORIN.^.* 



General Characteristics.— Bill moderate, broad at the base, and the tip of the 

 upper mandible projecting over the lower ; the nostrils partly exposed and partly 

 covered with feathers and a membranous shield; the wings moderate ; the tail ample ; 

 the tarsi short, strong, and covered with divided shields ; the toes lengthened, and 

 the lateral ones united with the middle one; the claws short and curved; lores 

 clothed with small feathers. 



The single species constituting this sub-family is abundant in 

 the inner margins of the Himalaya Mountains. When disturbed, 

 these birds take wing rapidly, uttering a loud and musical note, 

 which they repeat at short intervals till they again alight. They 

 are very fond of perching on some bare rock or stone, and from 

 thence surveying the ground around them. In the morning and 



* X6^oj, lophos, a crest ; <p^pu, phero, io carry : crest-bearer. 



