294 [November, 



Genus MELEAGRIS, Linn. 



Melbagris gallapavo, Linn. The Wild Turkey. 

 Formerly very numerous. They have now become almost extinct in this sec- 

 tion. A very few, however, still linger amongst us. 



Genus ORTYX, Steph. 

 Ortyx Virginianus, Linn. The American Quail. 



Still quite numerous, though gradually diminishing in numbers. Here they 

 are clearly not migratory, but upon the Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri rivers 

 they are said to be so. Late in 'September and in October they seem to have a 

 kind of undefined idea of migrating, and wander around apparently without any 

 fixed object ; but in a short time they become quiet and settle themselves into 

 winter quarters, which they never desert until spring, unless the supply of food 

 fails. They may always be found within a few rods of the same place during 

 the winter if the supply of food is sufficient for their wants. During their " crazy 

 fit " in the fall, they come into the town, and when frightened by the boys will 

 frequently fly against the white houses, often, as I have witnessed, with such 

 force as to kill themselves. I have known the same thing to happen on one oc- 

 casion in the country, when there was but a single white house against which 

 they could fly. They very rarely fly against houses of any other color. 



Genus TETRAO, Linn. 



Tetrad umbellus, Linn. Called here the Pheasant. 

 These beautiful birds were formerly extremely plenty, but have now become 

 rare. 



Genus CHARADRIUS, Linn. 

 Charadrius vociferus, Wils. Killdeer Plover. 

 These curious noisy birds are very numerous about all our streams and wet 

 lands. 



Charadrius helveticus. Plover. 

 Not numerous, though occasionally seen in spring and fall. 



Charadrius marmoratus. 

 Similar in numbers to the former. 



Genus GKUS, Linn. 

 Grus Canadensis, Temm. The Sand-hill Crane. 



I have seen but two or three individuals of this species in this region. In the 

 north western part of the State they are very numerous. In the Kankakee and 

 Calumet swamps, which occupy so large a space in north western Indiana and 

 north eastern Illinois, they build their nests and rear their young. If they were 

 the young of the Grus Americanus, as some here supposed, they would not 

 likely be found breeding here and producing others like themselves, none of 

 which much resemble the latter. They are distinct birds, and vary greatly both 

 in color and size. 



A gentleman who lives upon the Iroquois, in Jasper co., Ind., informed me 

 that he shot a white crane there in 1848, (G. Americana,) which measured 

 nearly seven feet from the point of the bill to the end of the toes, and weighed, 

 he judged, about thirty pounds. 



Genus NUMENIUS. 



Numenius longirostris, Wils. Long-billed Curlew. 



A few of these birds have been seen here. 



