NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 153 



Rio Grande of Texas, nesting in the dense woods. The first set of 

 eggs, twelve in number, were taken April 24, contained young chicks 

 peeping in the shell. A set of fifteen obtained April 26 were fresh.* 

 The nesting habits are the same as the common wild turkey. 

 The eggs are described as resembling those of the domestic turkey 

 in ground color and markings ; dark buff or creamy- white, more or 

 less thickly sprinkled with spots of light and dark umber-brown ; 

 they measure 2.40x1.80. The average size of twenty-eight eggs, 

 as given by Mr. Sennett, is 2.43x1.86; the largest, 2.50x1.90; the 

 smallest 2-33 x 1.72. 



311. Ortaiis vetula maccalli BAIRD. [469] 



Chachalaca. 



Hab. Valley of the Rio Grande, southward into Mexico. 



The Texas Guan, or Chachalaca, is a remarkable bird, inhabiting 

 the warm tropical regions of America. It measures from twenty-two 

 to twenty-four inches in length, of which the tail measures from nine 

 to eleven. Dr. Merrill states that this is one of the most characteristic 

 birds of the Lower Rio Grande region. " Rarely seen at any distance 

 from woods or dense chaparral, they are abundant in those places, 

 and their hoarse cries are the first thing heard by the traveler on 

 awaking in the morning. During the day, unless rainy or cloudy, 

 the birds are rarely seen or heard; but shortly before sunrise and 

 sunset, they mount the topmost branch of a dead tree, and make the 

 woods ring with their discordant notes. Contrary to almost every 

 description of their cry I have seen, it consists of three syllables, 

 though occasionally a fourth is added. When one bird begins to cry, 

 the nearest bird joins in at the second note, and in this way the fourth 

 syllable is made ; but they keep such good time that it is often very 

 difficult to satisfy one's self that this is the fact."f The Mexican name, 

 Chachalac, means a noisy person or bird, is derived from the discord- 

 ant cries of this species. The quality of these notes may be imitated 

 by putting the most stress upon the last two syllables. The compass and 

 harshness of the cries are said to be almost equal to that of the guinea 

 fowl. The birds are said to be easily tamed, and to cross with the 

 domestic fowl. Dr. Merrill remarks that they are much hunted for the 

 Brownsville market, but the flesh is not particularly good, and when 

 domesticated the birds become troublesomely familiar, and are decided 

 nuisances when kept about the house. 



* Further notes on the Ornithology of the Lower Rio Grande of Texas, from observations made during 

 the spring of 1878. By George B. Sennett. Edited, with annotations, by Dr. Elliott Coues, U.S.A.; pp. 

 247-248. Extracted from the Bulletin of the Geographical Survey, Vol V, No. 3; Washington, November 

 30, 1879. Author's edition. 



t Notes on the Ornithology of southern Texas. 



