434 ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 



ORDER GALLIN AE: GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



FAM. MELEAGRIDAE: TURKEYS. 



MELBAGBIS GALLOPAVO, Liun. 



Mexican Turkey. 



Meleagris gallopavo, LINN., FH. Suec., No. 198. Id., Sj st. Nat., i, 17CG, 268 (based ou 



domestic bird). COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 391. 

 Meleagris mexicana, BD., Birds N. A., 1858, (518. HENRY, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 



1859, 108 (New Mexico). COUES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 186(5, 93 



(Fort Whipple, Ariz.). Id., &., 1868, 84. COOPER, Birds Cal., i, 1870, 



523. SNOW, Birds Kan., 1872, 12. 

 Meleagris gallopavo var. mexicana, BD., BREW., & RIDG., N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 410. 



YARROW, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1871, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 36. UENSIIAW, 



Rep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 141. 



The Wild Turkey is found abundantly from Camp Apache throughout 

 the mountainous portion of Southeastern Arizona. In New Mexico, it was 

 met with farther to the north in the mountains, and I was informed by Colonel 

 Alexander that he had found them in large numbers in the Raton Mount- 

 ains in extreme northern New Mexico. It breeds abundantly through the 

 White Mountains, Arizona ; and about the middle of August several broods 

 of the young, about two-thirds grown, were met with. Toward the head of 

 the Gila, in New Mexico, the canons, in November, were found literally 

 swarming with these magnificent birds ; in many places the ground being 

 completely tracked up where they had been running. As many as eleven 

 were killed by the members of our party during a day's march. They roost 

 at night in the large cottonwoods by the streams, and soon after daylight, 

 having visited the stream, they usually betake themselves to the dry hills, 

 where they feed, in the fall at least, almost exclusively upon the seeds of 

 grasses and upon grasshoppers. I think they return once or twice during the 

 day to drink ; the dry nature of their food rendering a copious supply of water 

 necessary. In these wilds, they appear to be wholly unsuspicious, and 

 without knowledge of danger from man ; if not shot at, they will allow 

 one to get within a few yards without manifesting any distrust. They 



