14 AMEKICAi^ GAME CIED SHOOTING. 



of tlie United States was formerly abundant in the region 

 lying between the Atlantic Ocean and the Eocky Moun- 

 tains, but it IS now mainly confined to the Western and 

 Southwestern States and Territories, though it is still 

 rather common in some of the more densely populated 

 States, but its habitat is confined to forests, cane brakes, 

 or the vicinity of swamps where acorns, hazel nuts, and 

 other mast are found. 



It is a much handsomer bird than its domestic con- 

 gener, and has all the fire and spirit which distinguish 

 creatures in a state of nature from those of the farm- 

 yard. The gobbler is a perfect specimen of pomposity, 

 and, evidently, considers himself the emblem of stateli- 

 ness. The female differs from him in several points, so that 

 it is an easy matter to recognize her. She is, primarily, 

 much smaller, less brilliant in plumage, devoid of spurs, 

 and, generally, of bristles on the breast, and the flesh 

 process above the base of the bill is less developed. 

 An adult male measures from forty-six to fifty inches 

 in lengtii, about twenty-five inches in height, and weighs 

 between sixteen and thirty-five pounds, the average 

 weight being twenty pounds. The female varies m 

 weight from eight to eighteen or more pounds, the aver- 

 age being twelve pounds. 



The largest gobbler I ever heard of was said to turn 

 the scales at forty pounds, but that weight is phenomenal 

 even in Florida or Texas, which are considered the home 

 of the giants of the Maleagris gallopavo. I may add 

 here parenthetically that an old hunter told me that 

 the Mexican variety {3f. Mexicana) attained an unusual 

 size along the banks of the Eio Grande, in Texas. 



The head of the turkey is remarkable for its small size, 

 compared with that of the body, but what it lacks in 

 quantity it atones for in quality, for few of the feathered 

 creation can equal the bird in those characteristics neces- 

 sary to protect it from foes or to enable it to secure food. 



