16 



CLASS AVES. 



The Common Turkey y (Meleagris Gallopavo. Lin.) 



Enl. 97. 



Brought from America, in the l6th century, and 

 spread now throughout Europe, on account of the 

 goodness of its flesh, its size, and the facility with 

 which it multiples. 



The TVild Turkies of Virginia, Vieill. Gal. 201. 



Are of a greenish cupreous brown.* 



But another has been lately described: 



The Honduras Turkey, Lath. 4. Mel. Ocellata. 

 Cuv. Mem. Mus. I7, pi 1. Col. 111. 



Nearly as fine as the peacock, by the brilliancy of its 

 colours, and especially by the circles of sapphire 

 colour, surrounded with gold and ruby, which de- 

 corate the tail. It was taken in Honduras Bay. 



The Pintados, Guinea, or Pea-Fowls. Numida,* 



Lin. 



Have the head naked, fleshy caruncles at the bottom 



• Consult Pr. Musang. Orn. Amer. t. and Audubon, Amer. Birds, t. 

 and Vieil. Gal. t. The domestic varieties greatly vary in colour, and have 

 been often figured. Tem. Gal. ij. t. 5. f. 5 to 9, figures Larynx of this 

 bird. There are two varieties noticed, the Crested, Albin. ij. t. o5, and the 

 Hybrid, Edw. 337. 



* The Greeks named these birds Meleagris, under the idea that they 

 were the production of the metamorphosis of the sisters of Meleager. The 

 spots on their plumage being considered as the traces of tears. The 

 Romans named them Fowls of Africa, Numidia, &c. The moderns have 

 found them only in Guinea. 



