Mr. H. E. Dresser on the Birds of Southern Texas . 25 
I have seen one fight at the Matamoras cockpit; and it certainly 
showed as much pluck as the ordinary cocks, and, at the same 
time, was far more sprightly and quick in its movements. I was 
unable to procure a specimen of the hybrid; in fact I only saw 
it on one occasion, in the public cockpit. 
I kept a tame Chiacalacca at Matamoras; but, like my Paisano, 
he got too familiar, for I could not keep him out of the room. 
He would often go away for a day and pay a visit to the poultry 
belonging to a neighbour; and I once lost him for four days, 
eventually finding him in the possession of some Mexicans, who 
refused to give him up; but I took him forcibly away from the 
man who held him, and, finding that I intended to have my own 
way, they let me go off with him unmolested. He was eventually 
lost during my absence, in the confusion when Cortinas took 
Matamoras—which was vexing, as I intended to have sent him 
to England by some steamer going direct to Liverpool. On my 
return to Matamoras—late in July 1864, it was too late to obtain 
the eggs of this bird, as early in August I saw young birds ex¬ 
posed in the market for sale. 
The habits of my bird were very similar to those of the com¬ 
mon Fowl; and whenever I missed him I had only to go to a 
poultry-yard near our house, and generally found him there, 
Meleagris gallopavo, Linnseus. Wild Turkey. 
Common in all parts of Texas and Mexico that I visited, particu- 
tion, but I must say that I have a good deal of faith in the information I 
got. Not merely one or two, but many Mexicans, on whose word I think 
I can place some reliance, assured me of the truth of what I have above 
said. I made many inquiries respecting these hybrids, and was told that 
the cross is always between the male Ortalida and the female of the 
Common Fowl. The only example I saw seemed a bird very likely to 
have had such an origin. O. macccdli in its habits bears a much closer 
resemblance to our domestic poultry than its appearance would at first 
lead one to suppose. I blame myself very much for not having got at the 
bottom of this interesting question; but during my short stay at Mata¬ 
moras I was so very much engaged with business, that I put off doing so 
to a future opportunity ; and when I returned thither it was only en route 
homeward. My own tame bird, mentioned in the text, consorted fre¬ 
quently with the poultry, and though young I have seen him making 
amorous advances to the hens. 
