143 





THE OCELLATED TURKEY. 



Meleagris ocellata. CUVIEB. 

 PLATE III. 



Meleagris ocellata, Cuvier, Memoires du Museum^ vi. pi. 1. 

 Dindon ocelli, Temminck.Pl. Coloriees, pi. 112 Hon. 

 duras Turkey, Latham, General History of Birds, viii. 

 p. 129. 



THIS splendid and curious bird was first described 

 by the Baron Cuvier in the Memoires du Museum, 

 from the specimen which graced the collection of 

 Mr Bullock, and which, at the dispersion of that va- 

 luable museum, was purchased by the French Go- 

 vernment ; and we believe that it is still the only 

 specimen known to exist in any collection. 



The bird was taken by the crew of a vessel, who 

 were cutting wood in the Bay of Honduras. Three 

 specimens were seen, and they succeeded in captur- 

 ing one of them alive, which was sent to Sir Henry 

 Halford, but, meeting with an accident in the Thames, 

 it died before being delivered, and that gentleman 

 presented it to Mr Bullock for his exhibition in the 

 Egyptian Hall, then in all its splendour, and the 

 finest in Britain. Nothing was recorded of its ha- 

 bits and it is not known whether the tail is capable 



