MELEAGRID.E — THE TURKEYS. 



405 



the extreme tip, where there is a metallic gloss. The feathers of the lower back and 

 rump are black, with little or no copper gloss. The feathers of the sides behind, and 

 the coverts, npper and under, are of a very dark purplish-chestnut, with purplish- 

 metallic reflections near the end, and a subterminal bar of black ; the tips are of the 

 opaque purplish-chestnut referred to. The concealed portion of the coverts is dark chestnut 

 barred rather finely with black ; the black wider than the interspaces. The tail-feathers 

 are dark brownish-chestnut, with numerous transverse bars of black, which, when most 

 distinct, are about a quarter of an inch wide and about double their interspaces ; the 

 extreme tip for about half an inch is plain chestnut, lighter than the ground-color; and 

 there is a broad subterminal bar of black about two inches wide on the outer feathers, 

 and narrowing to about three quarters of an inch to the central ones. The innermost 

 pair scarcely shows this band, and the others are all much broken and confused. In 

 addition to the black bars on each feather, the chestnut interspaces are sprinkled with 

 black. The black bands are all most distinct on the inner webs; the interspaces are con- 

 siderably lighter below than above. 



There are no whitish tips whatever to the tail or it,« coverts. The feathers on the 

 middle of the belly are downy, opaque, and tipped obscurely with rusty whitish. 



The wing-coverts are like the back ; the quills, however, are blackish-brown, with 

 numerous transverse bars of white, half the width of the interspaces. The exposed sur- 

 faces of the wing, however, and most of the inner secondaries, are tinged with brownish- 

 rusty, the uppermost ones with a dull copper or greenish gloss. 



The female differs in smaller size, less brilliant colors, absence generally of bristles on 

 the breast and of spur, and a much smaller fleshy process above the base of the bill. 



Male. Length, 48.00 to 50.00 ; extent, 60.00 ; wing, 21.00 ; tail, 18.50. Weight, 16 to 

 35 lbs. Female. Weight about 12 lbs. ; measurements smaller in proportion. 



H.\B. Eastern Province of the United States, and Canada. West along the timbered 

 river-valleys towards the Rocky Mountains ; south to the Gulf coast. 



There is some qtiestion as to the names to be applied to the two races of 

 Northern Mdccujris, and especially as to which is entitled to bear the name 

 of gallopavo. The original description of 31. gallopavo quotes the New Eng- 

 land Turkey as described by Eay, but as far as the characters given go 

 refers rather to the domestic form, which is equivalent to M. mexicana of 

 Gould. In this state of the case we therefore think it as well to use 

 gallopavo for the eastern race, although the arguments of Major Leconte and 

 others in favor of applying it to the wild Mexican, and its derivative the 

 domestic variety, are not without much weiglit. 



H.VBiT.s. The Wild Turkey is found throughout eastern North America, 

 from South Carolina northward, and from the Atlantic to Texas and Arkan- 

 sas. It has probably become an extinct species in New England, thou,L,'h 

 witliin a few years individuals have been shot in Montague, Mass., and in 

 other towns in Franklin County. The construction of railroads, however, 

 and the settlement of the country, have probably led to their final extermina- 

 tion ; at least, I have known of none being taken within tlie limits of Massa- 

 chusetts for several years. 



In the unsettled portions of the Southern and Western States, and in tlie 

 country watered by the ilississippi and the Missouri liivers and their afflu- 

 ents, these birds are comparatively plentiful, though the question of their 



