180 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. . 



with white; tail, white, variegated at the base, the two niiiUUe feathers like the 

 back ; loral space aucl a band behind the eye, yellowish-white, a dusky streak 

 under the eye ; throat, reddish-white, with dusky spots ; fore parts and sides of 

 the neck, barred with reddish-white; on the breast the dusky spots become first 

 curved, then arrow-shaped, and so continue narrowing on the hind part of the 

 breast and part of the sides of which the upper portion is barred; abdomen, 

 lower tail coverts and axillars, white; tarsal feathers, light brownisli-gray, 

 faintly barred with whitish. Ftwale: — Smaller, the tints of colois less bright. 

 Length, 18-20; wing, 8-9; middle feathers of the tail, 4-0; outer feathers, 1^. 



Hab. — Britisli America, from the northern shore of Lake Superior and 

 British Columbia to Hudson's Ray territory and Alaska. 



Nest, in a tuft of grass on the prairie. 



Eggs, live to twelve, grayish-olive or drab coloi-, niiinittly (l()ttc<l with bi ov n 

 spots the size of a pin's head. 



Writing from the North-West, Prot". Macouii says of this species: 

 "This is the Prairie Chicken of oui- western plains, the true Prairie 

 Chicken not being observed here." 



Dr. Coues, writing in the same strain, says: "This is the Prairie 

 Chicken of the whole North- West, usually occurring where the 

 Pinnated Grouse does not, although the habitats of the two species 

 overlap to some extent." From the foregoing it appears that while 

 the present species occupied the North- West, the Prairie Chicken 

 flourished more in the south-east, but that now both are being driven 

 farther to the north-west, as the j^rairies come under cultivation. 



The Sharp-tail is abundant neai" Winnipeg, from w-hich point it 

 has reached the Hamilton market. It is also reported by Mr. 

 Bampton as being found at Sault Ste. Marie. 



Family PHASIANID^. Piikas.wts, ktc. 



SruFAMiLY MELEAGRIN^l Tuhkkys. 



Genus MELEACilUS Linx.kus. 



MELEAGRTS (lALLOPAVC) Lixx. 



I.U. Wild Turkey. (.nO) 



Naked skin of head and neck, livid l^lue; general color, copper-bronze with 

 copper and green reflection, each feather with a narrow black l)order; all the 

 quills, brown, closely l)arred witli white; tail, chestnut, barred with black and 

 a broad aubterminal black bar. 'I'i]) of tail fcrithers and upper tail coverts, 

 lighter chestnut. Length, S-4 feet. 



