RASORES : PHASIANID^E. 235 



PHASIANID.E OR PHEASANT FAMILY. This Family 

 comprises birds which have the legs, toes, and nasal fossae 

 bare, the tarsus in the male with one or more spurs, the 

 hind toe elevated above the others, and the tail-feathers 

 more than twelve. It includes the Turkeys, Peacocks, 

 Guinea Fowls, Jungle Fowls, Domestic Fowls, and Pheas- 

 ants. All except the Turkeys are indigenous to the Old 

 World, although many of them are now widely distrib- 

 uted over the globe. 



The Genus Melcagris comprises the Turkeys, of which 

 there are two species, both indigenous to America. . 



The Wild Turkey, M. gallopavo, Linn., of the United 

 States, is about forty-eight inches long, the stretch of 

 wings about sixty inches. The prevailing color is copper- 

 bronze with copper and green reflections, each feather 

 with a black margin. The quills are brown closely barred 

 with white, tail chestnut barred with black, head livid 

 blue, and the legs red. The male averages fifteen to 

 eighteen pounds' weight, and the female about nine 

 pounds, although the former, in some cases, attains thirty 

 to forty pounds. The great size and beauty of this bird, 

 and the fact of its being the origin of all the domestic 

 varieties of turkeys of both hemispheres, together with 

 the well-known delicacy of its flesh as an article of food, 

 render it one of the most interesting of this country. It 

 is rare on the Atlantic coast, but is still common in the 

 regions farther west. The question is now in agitation 

 whether there are not really two or three species of Wild 

 Turkey in the United States. 



The Ocellated Turkey, M. ocdlata, of Central America, 

 is exceedingly beautiful, the plumage exhibiting the most 

 brilliant and varied metallic reflections ; and the tail and 

 tail-coverts are ornamented with four series of large ocel- 

 lated spots. 



The Genus Pavo Peacocks has the head crested, 



