152 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



until almost trodden upon. Mr. Davis states that when the eggs are 

 once touched the female will abandon her nest. 



The eggs are rich, dark cream color, thickly sprinkled with rounded 

 spots of rusty-brown or umber. The number laid varies from nine to 

 eighteen, commonly nine to twelve. Some writers sa}^ ten to twenty 

 and twenty-four, but I have never seen this number in a set. Four typ- 

 ical specimens collected in Morrow county, Ohio, May lo, 1884, measure 

 2.54x2, 2.56x1.95, 2.56x1.97, 2.69x1.94. The average size of a 

 large series, 2.55 x 1.80. 



Mr. J. Parker Norris has two sets of eggs of this bird in his cabi- 

 net. One set was taken May 22, 1888, in Manatee county, Florida. 

 The nest was under a pile of brush, near a swamp. It was made of 

 grass and leaves, and there were also a few feathers. The eggs were 

 twelve in number, and the incubation very slight. They are of a deep 

 cream color, thickly speckled with russet. They measure 2.45 x 1.79, 

 2.55x1.86, 2.55x1.86, 2.38x1.80, 2.57x1.86, 2.54x1.80, 2.53x1.90, 

 2.55x1.83,2.50x1.91,2.36x1.81,2.34x1.75,2.52x1.78. ^ • 



The other set were collected in Ripemokee Swamp, Georgia, on 

 April 25, 1886. The nest was in a brush heap, and was constructed of 

 grass, leaves and twigs. The eggs were twelve, and were fresh. They 

 are of a deep cream color, faintly speckled and spotted with clay color. 

 The whole effect is much lighter than in the other set. They measure 

 2.58x1.85, 2.61 X 1.86, 2.64x1.87, 2.50x1.87, 2.61 X 1.93, 2.55x1.91, 

 2.64x1.90, 2.55x1.90, 2.66x1.90, 2.63x1.90, 2.78x1.92, 2.62x1.91. 



Both sets are quite pointed. 



310«. Meleagris gallopavo mexicaiia (Gould.) [47°.] 



Mexican Turkey. 



Hab. Table-land of Mexico, north to the southern border of the United States; western Texas to Arizona. 



This Turkey is found in western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, 

 and southward ; in suitable localities it is abundant. In various moun- 

 tain ranges throughout New Mexico it is very common. On the ap- 

 proach of winter they leave their summer haunts and travel down the 

 foot hills and the mesas, where they remain until the snow disap- 

 pears, when, like the deer, they return. Mr. Scott states that in the 

 pine woods of the Catalina mountains of Arizona this Turkey was very 

 common late in November, 1885, though snow covered the ground. 

 The bird, however, from what he could learn, has already decreased 

 in number in most localities, and to have become exterminated in 

 others where it was formerly abundant.* 



Mr. George B. Sennett found this Turkey common on the Lower 



* Auk, Vol. Ill, p. 389. 



