ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 257 



Genus TYMPANUCHUS (rLoaEn. 



ISS-SOo ('>()3). Tympauncluis americaniis {Reich.). *Pkairik Hen; Prairie 

 Chicken; Pinnated GKOUbE. 



Quite common; formerly very rare here, but common in the south vveBtern part 

 of the state; "formerly abundant but now extinct at Ann Arbor" (Dr. J. B. 

 Steere); "extinct in Monroe Co. for more than thirty yeai"s "' (Jerome Trombley); 

 "never seen at Port Sanilac'' (W. A. Oldfield); "very common in Southwestern 

 Michigan" (Prof. J. W. SimmouB); more frequent in prairie ref^ion; seen through 

 the year; breeds; nests in June, on the ground; nest said to be often concealed by 

 leaves, etc.; eggs eight to fourteen, gray, often specked with brown; destroys many 

 insects; excellent game bird; Dr. Atkins found a nest in June, 1879; he reports 

 them very common at Locke in January, 1878; embraced in Sager'e list of 1839; 

 "should be carefully protected as it is a valuable friend to the farmer" (Dr. A. K. 

 Fisher). 



Genus PEDIOC.ETES Bated. 



13})-308-(o(>'2). Pediocivtes Phasianellus campestris Ridgw. Prairie Sharp- 

 tailed Grouse. 



A. B. Covert feels very certain that this species is very abundant in the Northern 

 Peninsula; " Michigan " (Coues). 



Family PHASIANID.E. Pheasants; etc. 

 Large tine game birds, gregarious, polygamous. 



Subfamily MELEAGRIN^. Turkeys. 

 Genus MELEAGRIS Linn. 



140-310-(oo-t). Meleagris gallopavo Linn. * Wild Turkey. 



Once very common; "none observed in Upper Peninsula" {\. H. Boies); formerly 

 large flocks were seen on the college farm; now extinct except north; '"extinct in 

 Montcalm Co." (Prof. James Satterlee); *• I do not believe there is a turkey north 

 of an east and west line passing through Houghton Lake " (Dr. M. L. Leach); 

 " common in Bay City markets ten years ago, now rarely seen, a half dozen or 

 so taken in Tuscola Co. in 1889" (N. A. Eddy); "once very common, but of late 

 has become extinct, or has been driven to other parts" (W. A. Oldfield); all seasons 

 of the year; breeds; nests in May, on the ground; eggs nine to twelve, occasionally 

 as many as eighteen, creamy white, spotted with brown; "eggs creamy white 

 thickly spotted with small specks of rusty brown and umber" (H. Nehrling); excel- 

 lent for table; Jerome Trombley reports an old bird, with brood, in Monroe Co., in 

 1888; J. 1>. Purdy writes me that young were taken in Wayne in 1888, and eggs 

 in Kent Co. in 1891. It is an interesting fact that this species is omitted in the 

 excellent list of the late Dr. A. Sager. A number of fine turkeys were caught here 

 a few years ago in a log pen into which they passed through a hole dug in the 

 ground, underneath one side, as they picked up corn which was placed in this 

 trench. Once in the pen, they only lodged up, and so they were successfully caged. 

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