1S92.] Sennett 071 a Neiv Turkey. 1 67 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW TURKEY. 



BY GEORGE B. SENNETT. 



In 1S79, In the ' Bulletin of the United States Geological Sur- 

 vey', Vol. V, No. 3, p. 43S, I called attention to the probable 

 distinctness of the Turkey found on the lower Rio Grande in 

 Texas, but hesitated to characterize it for lack of specimens. 

 Since that time I have obtained a fair series of both sexes which 

 convinces me that the bird of this region represents a well-marked 

 subspecies. I propose to call it 



Meleagris gallopavo ellioti. 

 Rio Grande Turkey. 



Similar in coloration to AI. gallopavo in its neck, mantle, upper 

 wing-coverts and breast, but differing in having the back and rump jet 

 black ; in certain lights all the feathers show a subapical silvery gray bar of 

 about half an inch in width, with slight rosy reflections, and a narrow line 

 of the same hue on the extreme tip. Feathers of lower back extending 

 over the tail also black with a metallic coppery bronze subapical bar, and 

 broadly tipped with dark ochraceous buff. Upper tail-coverts, save the 

 lower series, chestnut with irregular narrow black cross lines, succeeded 

 by a broad black bar, widest in its central portion, with metallic coppery 

 bronze reflections, and broadly tipped with dark ochraceous buff. The 

 lowest series of upper tail-coverts is also deep chestnut, irregularly 

 crossed with black and tipped with ochraceous buff and w.ithout a vestige 

 of the subapical black bar so conspicuous in the other feathers. Tail 

 mottled with pale chestnut and black, taking the form of irregular bars 

 on the lateral feathers, with a subapical black band, and tipped with och- 

 raceous buff. Under tail-coverts black, with metallic green, bronze, and 

 red reflections, and broadly tipped with dark ochraceous buff. 



The young male resembles the adult, except in having breast and 

 under parts, flanks, back, and rump, conspicuously' tipped with ochra- 

 ceous buff. 



The adult female is black with the iridescent hues seen in the male on 

 back, wings, and under surface. All the feathers of the upper surface 

 have black subapical bars, and the tips grayish, becoming broader on 

 the lower back and rump, while the feathers of the under surface have 

 pale buff tips. The tips of the upper tail-coverts are ochraceous, but 

 paler than in the male, while the under tail-coverts closely resemble 

 those of the male. The tail also resembles that of the male, but with 

 paler tips. 



