164 AVES RASORES. [MELEAGRIS. 



produced, the rest decreasing to the exterior : the two middle ones dusky 

 black, the next gray, the inner margin white towards the extremity, with 

 a black and brown spot near the base ; the fourth and third gray, with 

 the black spot; the second gray, with the black and brown spot; the 

 outer web and tip of the first white, lower half of the inner web gray, 

 with a black and brown spot: upper tail-coverts long, produced; lower 

 ones white : bill black : bare space round the eyes livid : irides reddish 

 orange: feet reddish, paler behind than before; claws black." FLEM. 

 The female, according to Wilson, is somewhat smaller, with the colours 

 in general less vivid and more tinged with brown : the gold spot on the 

 sides of the neck smaller, and less brilliant. 



A native of North America. The only individual which has hitherto 

 occurred in this country is recorded by Dr Fleming (Brit. An. p. 145.) 

 to have been " shot in the neighbourhood of a pigeon-house at Westhall, 

 in the parish of Monymeal, Fifeshire, Dec. 31, 1825. The feathers were 

 quite fresh and entire, like those of a wild bird." 



* GEN. 53. MELEAGRIS, Linn. 



* 142. M. Gallopavo, Linn. (Turkey.) Head, and upper part of the 

 neck, almost naked, with a bluish papillose skin : a tuft of black hairs on 

 the breast. 



M. Gallopavo, Temm. Pig. et Gall. torn. n. p. 374. and torn. in. p. 677. 

 Turkey, Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 325. 



BIMENS. Entire length three feet six inches : breadth, wings extended, about 

 four feet. 



DESCRIPT. Head, and upper portion of the neck, bare of feathers; skin bluish, 

 rough with numerous fleshy papillae of various hues and sizes ; throat furnished with 

 a pendulous carunculated wattle, of a bright scarlet colour, increasing in intensity 

 when the bird is under excitement : also an elongated fleshy appendage arising from 

 the base of the upper mandible, in its contracted state about an inch long, but when 

 relaxed hanging down considerably below the bill : a tuft of long pendent hair from 

 the middle of the breast : colour of the plumage very variable ; generally dark gray, 

 inclining to black, or black with transverse whitish bars ; occasionally pure white, 

 or pied ; more rarely of a fine deep copper-colour, with the greater quills pure 

 white, and the tail dirty white. In the female the pectoral tuft is wanting ; the 

 frontal caruncle is smaller, and remains always contracted ; there is also no power 

 of erecting and expanding the tail, as in the male bird. (Egg.) Yellowish white, 

 spotted and speckled all over with reddish yellow : long. diam. three inches ; 

 trans, diam. one inch eleven lines. 



Found in a wild state in North America. Generally supposed to have been 

 introduced into England about the year 1524. Lays early in the Spring, and pro- 

 duces from fifteen to seventeen in a brood. Seldom hatches more than once in the 

 season in this climate. 



* GEN. 54. PAVO, Linn. 



* 143. P. cristotus, Linn. (Crested Peacock.) Crest on the head 

 compressed. 



P. cristatus, domesticus, Temm. Pig. et Gall. torn. n. p. 35. and torn. in. p. 651. 

 Peacock, Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 328. 



DIMENS. Entire length three feet eight inches : length of the bill one inch ten 

 lines ; of the train four feet five inches ; of the tail one foot seven inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Male.) Crest of twenty-four feathers, the shafts slender, and 

 scarcely webbed except at the tips, which are of a golden green colour : head, 

 throat, neck, and breast, of a rich blue, glossed with green and gold ; above and 



