114 NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



feet from the ground. The eggs, commonly three in number, are about 

 the size and shape of common hens' eggs; buffy- white, and are roughly 

 granulated. They are large for the bird; size from 2.18 to 2.35 long by 

 1.55 to 1.60 broad. 



470. Mexican Turkey — meleagris gallopavo. This Turkey is found 

 in Texas.' New Mexico, Arizona, and southward ; in suitable localities it 

 is found in abundance. The nesting habits are the same as the common 

 Wild Turkey. The eggs are described as resembling those of the domestic 

 turkey in ground color and markings; dark buff or creamy-white, more 

 or less thickly sprinkled with spots of dark umber brown; they measure 

 about 2.40 by 1.80. 



470^. Wild Turkey — meleagris gallopavo Americana. Rich, dark 

 cream color, thickly sprinkled with rounded spots of rusty-brown or 

 umber. The number laid varies from ten to eighteen. Some writers say 

 ten to twenty and twenty four, but I have never seen this many in a set. 

 Four typical specimens collected in Morrow county, Ohio, May 10,1884, 

 measure 2.54 by 2., 2.56 by 1.95, 2.56 by 1.97, 2.69 by 1.94. This is 

 the bird which so very much resemibles the domestic turkey, but is more 

 brilliant in color. It is a constant resident in suitable localities throughout 

 Eastern United States. It is said to occur as far north as Canada; is 

 probably extinct in New England, and is found as far northwest as the 

 Missouri River, and southwest as Texas. But this grand bird is rapidly 

 becoming exterminated, not only in New England but in other sections of 

 the country. In Ohio it was formerly an abundant resident, breeding 

 throughout the State; now quite unknown in the more thickly settled por- 

 tions, but still common in some of the northwestern counties. Dr. Kirt- 

 land (1850) speaks of the time when Wild Turkeys were more common 

 than tame ones are now. The nest of the Wild Turkey is made on the 

 ground, hidden in some dense thicket or tangled brush. 



471. Dusky Grouse — canace obscura. Pale cream color, marked all 

 over with small round spots of reddish brown, but generally more numer- 

 ous towards the greater end ; eight to fifteen are laid ; size about 2. by 

 1.50. The Dusky Grouse is distributed chiefly throughout the wooded 

 and especially the evergreen regions of United States, from the Rocky 

 Mountains to the Pacific. In its habits it resembles the Ruffed Grouse. 

 It nests on the ground, often under shelter of a hollow log or projecting 

 rock, with merely a few pine needles scratched together on which the 

 eggs are laid. 



Hab. Rocky and other Mountains of the United States; south to New xMexico; and in the White Moun- 

 tains of Arizona. Northerly in the Rocky Mountains, shades into the ne.\t variety, C. o. richardsoni. 



