Miscellaneous Facts and ObsevDations. 163 



that at least two distinct species of Meleagris, or Tur- 

 key, ai-e known within the Hmits of North-America. 

 These are the Meleagris Gallopavo, or Common domes- 

 ticated Turkey, which was altogether unknown in the 

 countries of the old world befwe the discovery of Ame- 

 rica; and the common wild Turkey of the United- 

 States, to which the author of the memoir has given the 

 name of Meleagris Falaiva : this being one of its In- 

 dian names. 



The same author has rendered it very probable, that 

 this latter species was domesticated by sojne of the In- 

 dian tribes, living within the. present limits of the United- 

 States, before these tribes had been visited by the Euro- 

 peans. It is certain, however, that the turkey was not 

 domesticated by the generality of the tribes, within the 

 limits just mentioned, until after the Europeans had 

 taken possession of the countries of North- America. 



Editor. 



11. It is not generally known to the naturalists, that 

 the Turkey (Meleagris Palawa), in its wild state, lives 

 upon shell-fish, different species of serpents, and other 

 animal matters, as well as upon vegetables. Much less 

 is it known, that the common domesticated turkey may 

 be supported, for a very considerable length of time, al- 

 most entirely upon pounded brick and water, without 



THEIR SUFFERING ANY PERCEPTIBLE DIMINUTION 

 IN THEIR BULK, STRENGTH, OR HEALTH. This, 



however, is a fact, which has been determined by many 



