upon a river, they betake themselves to the highest eminence, and
often remain there a whole day; for the purpose of consultation, it
would seem, the males gobbling, calling, and making much ado,--strutting
about as if to raise their courage to a pitch befitting the emergency.
At length, when all around is quiet, the whole party mount to the tops
of the most lofty trees, whence, at a signal--consisting of a single
cluck--given by the leader, the flock takes flight for the opposite
shore. On reaching it, after crossing a broad stream, they appear
totally bewildered, and easily fall a prey to the hunter, who is on the
watch for them with his dogs."

THE OCELLATED TURKEY.

A still more magnificent species of turkey than the one just described
inhabits Honduras. It may be distinguished from the common turkey by
the eye-like marks on the tail and upper wing-coverts. The naked skin
of the head and neck, too, is of a delicate violet-blue, covered with
numerous pea-looking knobs arranged in a cluster upon the crown. This
is of a pale buff-orange, while there is a row of similar marks over the
eye, and others scattered about the neck. The wattle hanging from the
neck is of a light orange at the tip. The greater wing-coverts are of a
rich chestnut, the feet and legs being of a lake colour. It is somewhat
smaller than the wild turkey of the States.

THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK.

The celebrated canvas-back duck, allied to the English pochard, makes
its appearance among the numerous rivers in the neighbourhood of
Chesapeake Bay about the middle of October, as well as in other parts of
the Union. It is at that time, however, thin; but soon grows fat, from
the abundance of its favourite food. It is from two to three feet
across the wings. Its glossy black beak is large. The head and part of
the neck are of a rich glossy reddish-chestnut tint, with black breast.
The wing-coverts are grey, and the rest of the body white, marked with a
number of transverse wavy lines.

It is especially esteemed at table--and those who have eaten it at the
hospitable boards of Americans will acknowledge its excellence; though
when, on several occasions, some braces of these birds have been sent to
England, they have failed to elicit the admiration due to their merits--
in consequence, it is said, of not being accompanied by an American
cook.

THE SUMMER DUCK.

The most beautiful of the duck tribe which visits the States is the
summer or tree