41 6 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 IX., in 1570. 



The Honduras or Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris 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. The Zoological Society of London possessed a splendid 

 hybrid, bred between the American Wild Turkey and the Honduras 

 species. 



The family of Pavonidse comprehends the genera Pavo cristatus 

 (Fig. 158), Pavo Javanicus, Polyplectron^ and Lophophorus. 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 



