VOL. LXXI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 35 



Mr. Edwards, Le Paon de Tibet of M. Brisson, and the Pavo bicalcaratus 

 of Linneus. I have seen this bird living. It has a crest, but not so con- 

 spicuous as that described by ^Elian; but it has those striking colours in form of 

 eyes, neither does it erect its tail like the peacock, but trails it like the phea- 

 sant. The catreus of Strabo seems to be the same bird. He describes it as 

 uncommonly beautiful and spotted, and very like a peacock. The former author 

 gives a more minute account of this species, and under the same name. He 

 borrows it from Clitarchus, an attendant of Alexander the Great in all his con- 

 quests. It is evident from his description, that it was of this kind; and it is 

 likewise probable, that it was the same with his large Indian poultry before cited. 

 He celebrates it also for its fine note; but allowance -must be made for the 

 credulity of iElian. The catreus, or peacock pheasant, is a native of Tibet, 

 and in all probability of the north of India, where Clitarchus might have 

 observed it; for the march of Alexander was through that part which borders on 

 Tibet, and is now known by the name of Penj-ab, or five rivers. 



I shall now collect from authors the several parts of the world where turkies 

 are unknown in the state of nature. Europe has no share in the question; it 

 being generally agreed that they are exotic in respect to that continent. Neither 

 are they found in any part of Asia Minor, or the Asiatic Turkey, notwithstand- 

 ing ignorance of their true origin first caused them to be named from that 

 empire. About Aleppo, capital of Syria, they are only met with, domesticated 

 like other poultry. In Armenia they are unknown, as well as in Persia; having 

 been brought from Venice by some Armenian merchants into that empire, where 

 they are still so scarce as to be preserved among other rare fowl in the royal 

 menagery. Du Hakie acquaints us, that they are not natives of China; but 

 were introduced there from other countries. He errs from misinformation in 

 saying that they are common in India. I will not quote Gemelli Careri, to 

 prove that they are not found in the Philippine Islands, because that gentleman, 

 with his pen travelled rounr 1 the world in his easy chair, during a very long indis- 

 position and confinement in his native country. But Dampier bears witness 

 that none are found in Mindanao. 



The hot climate of Africa barely suffers these birds to exist in that vast con- 

 tinent, except under the care of mankind. Very few are found in Guinea, 

 except in the hands of the Europeans, the negroes declining to breed any on 

 account of the great heats. Prosper Alpinus satisfies us, that they are not found 

 either in Nubia or in Egypt. He describes the Meleagrides of the ancients, and 

 only proves that the Guinea hens were brought out of Nubia, and sold at a 

 great price at Cairo; but is totally silent about the turkey of the moderns. 



Let me here observe, that the Guinea hens have long been imported 

 into Britain. They were cultivated in our farm-yards; fori discover in 1277, 



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