THE TURKEYS, 105 
when they congregate in large numbers in the cafions to feed 
on éallotes, a small bitter acorn, common to the cafions and 
parks of Southern Arizona and southward. I have seen their 
roosting-places at night, in sycamore (A/sa) trees ; I also saw 
one in an oak grove on the side of a hill, but they appear more 
to favour the cafions. On the head-waters of the Santa 
Dominga I have seen not less than fifty or sixty in a bunch, 
and Turkey, in those days, was a common camp fare. I have 
been told by Mexicans that coyotes catch Turkeys by running 
in circles under their roosting tree till the birds get dizzy with 
watching them, and fall down. I never saw it done, but have 
been assured that it is a fact.” 
“The mating-season,” writes Captain Bendire, “commences, 
according to latitude, from March tst to the middle of April, 
by which time some of the birds commence nesting. 
“They are summer residents in the higher mountain ranges, 
reaching an altitude of from 8,000 to 10,000 feet, and retiring 
to the more sheltered canons and the timbered river valleys 
in the late fall, congregating at such times in large flocks. 
“The Mexican Turkey, like the Eastern species, is poly- 
gamous, and the female attends exclusively to the duties of 
incubation, which lasts about four weeks, the male not only 
not assisting, but, according to observations made by Lieut. 
J. M. F. Partello, Fifth Infantry, U.S. Army, often destroying 
the eggs and the tender young.” 
Nest.—No doubt similar to that of the sub-species JZ. el/io/7, 
which is described below. 
Eggs.—Creamy-white, spotted and dotted over the entire 
shell with reddish-brown. Average measurements, 2°7 by 1°9 
inches. 
SUB-SP. @. ELLIOT’S TURKEY. MELEAGRIS ELLIOTI. 
Meleagris gallopavo elliott, Sennett, Auk, 1892, p. 167, pl. 
i, 
