104 
WILD TURKEY. 
stances. In the wild state, a white, or even a speckled Turkey, 
is unknown; and we may venture to say, that a plain black one 
has hardly ever occurred. 
Moehring proposed the name of Cynchramus for this genus, as 
the term Meleagris was used by the ancients to indicate a different 
bird: all other naturalists have agreed with Linne, who, though 
fully aware of the fact, made use of the name we have adopted. 
But he included in the genus two allied species, which Gmelin very 
properly rejected, and placed in a separate genus, which he called 
Penelope, considering the Turkey as mi generis. Latham again 
rendered the genus unnatural, by restoring one of the objectionable 
Linnean species, perceiving that it was not properly placed in 
Penelope; it is, in truth, a Phasianus. As now characterized, 
the present genus is exclusively American; and, by the discovery 
of a beautiful species closely allied to that of the United States, it 
now consists of two species. The Ocellated Turkey (, Meleagris 
oculata) inhabits Honduras, and may be distinguished from the 
common species by its smaller size, more brilliant plumage, and 
principally by having ocellated spots on the tail. It was first 
described by Cuvier, and has lately been figured in that magnifi¬ 
cent periodical work, the “Planches Coloriees” of Temminck and 
Laugier. A beautiful specimen has long been exhibited in the 
Charleston Museum. 
