34 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 



shallow groove across the base of the spur core buttress on the an- 

 terior side, to allow passage of another tendon. Bone brown in color, 

 well fossilized. 



Remarks. — In size and form the specimen here described is similar 

 to the ordinary turkey, Mcleagris gallopavo, except for the three 

 points of the spur core. Description of it as a new species has been 

 withheld for 2 years to allow careful consideration of its peculiarities. 

 These are susceptible of three interpretations: (i) that the bone is 

 pathological and therefore aberrant, (2) that it is simply an individual 

 variant, and (3) that it represents a distinct species. 



Fig. 13. — Fragmentary metatarsus (type) of Mcleagris 

 tridcns (natural size). 



With regard to the first it needs only casual inspection to determine 

 that the entire bone, including the spur cores is entirely normal and 

 without any indication of disease. The very regularity and symmetry 

 of its development indicate that the increased number of spurs is not 

 due to any injury. As for the second supposition, in the past two years 

 the writer has examined critically all of the specimens of wild turkeys 

 that have been available to him, has seen the tarsal bones of a con- 

 siderable number, one hundred or more, that have come from Indian 

 pueblos in the Southwest and elsewhere, has seen several hundreds of 

 domestic turkeys, and has talked with persons who have reared do- 

 mestic turkeys for years without learning of any instance where a 

 male tiu-kcy had more than a single spur. Under these circumstances 



