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D. Seth-Smith—The Ocellated Turkey



The late Mr. W. K. Pomeroy spent some time in British Honduras

searching for this species with a view to importing specimens to

Europe. He managed, after a great deal of trouble, to shoot two

specimens for a museum, and later discovered a pair in captivity in

Cayo, which he was able to purchase ; but, in spite of great care, they

died very soon after he acquired them. He wrote : “ There is something

extraordinary about these birds ; they become quite tame in captivity,

yet never live more than a few months.” He mentions that a clutch

of eggs, placed under a domestic hen, produced chicks which thrived

well so long as the foster-mother looked after them, but when left to

care for themselves, refused food, and died. But this experience is not

universal.


There is no doubt that the Ocellated Turkey is better adapted to

a warm climate than to one such as that of the British Isles, but, in

spite of this, examples kept in the London Zoological Gardens have

done fairly well ; I have known eight in all during the last twenty-eight

years, only one of which died within the year, most of the others living

for three years or over, and one for ten years when it met with an

accident.


A pair which arrived in the spring of 1912 were in breeding condition

in May, 1914, when the cock-bird became very aggressive, attacking

his keeper when he entered the aviary ; and during a spell of hot

weather showed off his display for the first time. This was very

similar to that of the common Turkey, but the much greater brilliance

of his plumage and the blue skin on the face gave the Ocellated Turkey

a different and more magnificent appearance. The skin became more

intense blue, and the orange warts showed to great perfection on the

triangular fleshy knob which appeared between the eyes.


During display the bird uttered a peculiar booming note, quite

unlike that of the common Turkey, though from time to time he would

extend his neck and give utterance to a “ gobble ” somewhat similar

to that of the common bird.


So far as I can remember, eggs were laid which proved infertile,

a result, doubtless, of the low temperature compared with that of the

bird’s native habitat. It was noticeable that only in really hot weather

did the pair assume their full vigour.



