4 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Sclater and Salvin. To the same suborder belong the common 

 domestic fowl, the Gninea-fowl (JVumida meleagris), the Old 

 World P/iasmnidce, or Pheasants, and all of the Grouse and 

 Partridge families {Tetraon'/'dce and Perdicidw). To the other 

 suborder (known as GaUinm Peristeropodes) belong the tropical 

 American Craeidw (Curassows, Guans, and Chachalacas) and the 

 Australian Megdpodidm (Mound-Fowl or Brush-Turkeys). 



The Meleagr'ime, as at present known, include a single genus, 

 Meleagris, which is peculiar to eastern and southeastern North 

 America, its southern limit being the Peten district of Gua- 

 temala and parts of British Honduras, where (as also in Yuca- 

 tan) occurs the M. ocellata (the Ocellated or Hondui-as Tur- 

 key) — a magnificent bird, almost rivaling the Impeyan Pheasant 

 and Peacock in the brilliancy of its colors. 



Genus MELEAGRIS Linn/EUS. 



Meleagris Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1758, 156. Type, Meleagris gallopavo Linn. 



Gen. Chak. Legs with transverse soutellEe before and behind ; reticulated laterally. 

 Tarsi with spurs. Tail rounded, rather long, usually of eighteen feathers. Forehead with 

 a depending fleshy cone. Head and the upper half of the neck without feathers. Breast of 

 male in one species with a long tuft of bristles. 



The two species of this genus (one of them with two verj^ 

 strongly marked geographical races) may be distinguished as 

 follows : 



1. M. gallopavo. Bi-east of the male with a tutt of long, coarse, hair-Uke black bristles. 

 Tail bright umber- or dull ferruginous-brown, narrowly barred with black, and crossed 

 near the end with a broad subterminal band of black. Spurs moderately developed. 

 Female much smaller and duller eolor<Hi than the male. 



a. gallopavo. Tip of tail and all of the upper tail-ooverts dark chestnut; prevaiUng 

 hue of metallic reflections coppery. Hab. Eastern United States and Canada. 



yS. me.xicana. Tip of tail and all of the upper tail-coverts white or pale buff;* prevail- 

 ing hue of metallic reflections grei'Uish. Ifab. The common domesticated bird, 

 derived from Ihc. wild Mexican race ; the latter ranging from southern Mexico north 

 to mountains of Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, and western Texas. 



2. M, ocellata. Breast of male without tuft of bristles. Tail ash-gray, narrowly barred 

 with black, broadly tipped with refulgent copper-bronze, and ornamented with large 

 subterminal eye-spots or ocolhi' of brilliantly metallic steel-bluo, bordered with velvety 

 black; longer upper tail-coverts similarly adorned, and body bai-red with richly lus- 

 trous golden-bronze, steel-blue, green, etc., and velvety black. Spurs greatly devel- 

 oped and very sharp in the male. Female decidedly smaller than the male but scai'coly 

 less brilliant. Hab. Yucatan, Peten district of Guati'mala, and adjoining portions of 

 British Honduras. 



* Some varieties, due to domestication, are wholly black, eream-colored, or tawny. 



