THE TUrtKET. 105 



period of time, tlie wild turkey will rank in 

 the list of animals which man has utterly ex- 

 tirpated. 



Besides the wild turkey of North America, a 

 distinct species, the Honduras turkey (3Ielea- 

 ffris ocellata) is found in certain parts of central 

 America, adjacent to Jlexico. The first speci- 

 men, known formerly in Bullock's collection, 

 now in the museum of Paris, was brought from 

 the Bay of Honduras. A fine specimen is in 

 the British Museum. This bird is considerably 

 smaller than the common wild turkey, but is 

 far more beautiful, the metallic hues and irri- 

 descence of its plumage equalling those of 

 some of the humming birds, — black, golden, 

 bronze, blue, emerald green, and rufous, are 

 intermingled in exquisite contrast ; and on the 

 tail-feathers and upper tail-coverts, there are 

 beautiful ocellated markings. The legs are 

 lake-red. 



Of the habits of this refulgent species, no- 

 thing is distinctly known. It appears to be 

 very rare, unless, perhaps, in some localities, 

 which are as yet unexplored. 



T^ 3 



