of the United States. 12o 



Second and ninth subequal ; fourth and fifth longest. Tail 

 of from fourteen to eighteen wide feathers, capable of being 

 vertically expanded. 



Female considerably smaller and widely different from the 

 male. Young, at first, similar to the female, destitute of the 

 bristly tuft. Feathers very long, truncated. Colours vary- 

 ing in richness according to the incidence of light. 



Gregarious ; forming large flocks. Live generally in fo- 

 rests, roosting on the branches of large trees : noisy at the 

 dawn of day. Feed principally on maize and acorns, also 

 on other vegetable, and even animal, substances. Courting 

 their mates by strutting, puffing, wheeling, &ic. ; very pug- 

 nacious in the breeding season. Easily secured and domes- 

 ticated. Flesh exceedingly good and much esteemed. 



Peculiar to North America; composed of but two species. 



202. Meleagris gallopavo, L. Primaries dull blackish, 

 banded with white ; tail of eighteen feathers, ferruginous, 

 skirted with black, and with a black subterminal band. 



Male varying from black to refulgent coppery. 



Female and young, dusky-gray, with but few metallic re- 

 flections. 



Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, Nob. Am. Orn. i. p. 

 79. pi. 9. male and female. 



Inhabits all North America to the Rocky Mountains : com- 

 mon in the western and southern states; nearly destroyed in 

 the eastern and northern : domesticated throughout th* 1 

 world, producing endless varieties. 



39. PERDIX. 



Perdix, Briss. Lath. 111. Vieill. Temm. • 

 Tetrao, L. Gm. Cuv. Perdix, Cotumix, Ranz. 

 Bill entire, bare : membrane of the nostrils naked : 

 tongue, fleshy, entire, acute. Head wholly feathered ; often 

 a naked space round the eye, Feet naked ; tarsus clypeate- 



