ORDER (jALLIJN A[i ! GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



Family MELEAGRIDID^ : Turkeys. 



These are the nearest American analogues of the true Pheasants, fam- 

 ily Phasianida\ indigenons to Asia, and are sometimes i)laced in that 

 family. But the differences appear sufficient to warrant their family 

 separation. Their next nearest allies are the Guinea Fowls, of Afri(;a — 

 family yumidUkc. 



MELEAGRIS GALLOPAYO var. AMERICANA, (Bartr.) Cones. 



Common Wild Turkey, 



a. (jaUaijavo. 



Meleagris gaUopavo, luVS'S., Fn. Suec. No. 198 ; Syst. Nat. i, 1766, 268 (based ou the 

 domestic bird, which is most like this variety. See Nkwt., Zool. Rec. v, 102. 

 Not of authors generally, the name usually referring to the foregoing feral 

 variety). — Stepii., Shaw's Gen. Zool. Ix, pt. i, p. luO, pi. 8 (domestic). — Woopii., 

 Sitgr. Rep. 1854, 94, in part ; the paragraph ou p. 93 refers to the following 

 variety. 



Mclcagrls mixicana, Gould, P. Z. S. 1856, 61. — Be, B. N. A. 1858, 618 ; U. S. Agric. Rep. 

 1866, 288.— COUES, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, 93.— Elliot, B. N. A. pt. x, pi. 38.— Darw., 

 Anim. and PI. Douiest. i, 292.— Coop., B. Cah i, 1870, 523. 



Meleagrh gaUopavo var. mexicana, B. B. & R., N. A. B. iii, 1874, 410. 



b. americana. 



Meleagris ajHmcana, Bartr., Trav. 1791, 290. 



Milfugrh gaUopavo var. americana, CoUES, Key, 1872, 232. 



Meleagris (/(///ojjaro, Wil.s., Index, 1872, vi, p. — . — Bp., Am. Orn. 1825, i, 79, pi. 9; Syn. 

 1828, 122; Comp. List, 1838, 42.— Axp., Orn. Biog. LSU. i, 1. i)ls. 1 and 6; 

 V, 5.59; Svu. 1839, 197; B. Am. 1842, v, 42, pis. 2c>7, 288.— Nirr., Man. 1, 1832, 

 630.— Reich., Syst. Av. 1851, ])l. 26 ; Ic. Av. pi. 289.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 615.— 

 Maxim., J. f. 6. vi, 1858, 426.— McIlwr., Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1866, 91.— Catox, 

 Am. Nat. iii, pp. 28, 30 ; vii, 431.— Allex, Bull. M. C. Z. ii, 1871, 342 (origin of 

 domestic Turkey, &c.) ; iii, 1872, 181 (Kansas).— Sxow, B. Kans. l.'^73. No. 

 193.— Allen, Mem. J5ost. Soc. i, 18()8, 500 (Iowa). — TitiPPE, Pr. Bost. Soc. xv, 

 1«72, 240 (Iowa). — Hatch, Pr. Minn. Acad, i, 1874, 61 (Southwest Minnesota). — 

 B. B. <Sc R., N. A. B. iii, 1874, 404 ; and of most authors. 



Mvhagrix sijlvcHlriH^Yiv.UA.., Nouv. Diet, d'llist. Nat. ix, 447. 



(iaUoparo xglrcilris, Le Contk, Pr. A. N. S. ix, 1857, 179. 



Mclcagrixf era, \'iK\i.L., Gal. Ois. ii, 1824, 10, pi. 10.— Gray, Cat. GaU. Br. Mus. 



Wild Turkvij of authors and others. 



lluh. — Of var. americana, the Eastern Province of the United States and portions of 

 Canatla. Of true gaUapavo, the southern portions of the Middle Province and south- 

 ward. 



Dr. Ilayden does not include the Wihl Turkey in his report, ai)par- 

 ently not having met with it in the 3Iissouri region. It.-; occurrence, 

 however, is suthciently attested as far \\\} the Mis.souri Hiver as the 

 vicinity of YanJcton, if not .somewhat beyond. I found no evidence of 

 it.s presence in Norfheni Dakota; 1 have ob.served but one ."Miinie.sotiau 

 reconl. In these lougitu<le8 it becomes abundant further sontli ; both 

 tlie Kansas authorities above cited witness its common oceuirence in 

 the tind)ere(l distri(;ts of tinit State, as ]Mr. Trippe does in Southern 

 Iowa. \}\: Woodhousu states, that " throughout the wooded portions of 



