NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



147 



3 1 Ob. Florida Wild Turkey. Mcl- 



eagris gallopavo ozceola. 



Range. Southern Florida. 



A small variety of the Wild Turk- 

 ey about 42 inches long. They 

 breed in the tangled thickets in the 

 higher portions of the southern 

 half of Florida, laying from ten to 

 sixteen eggs of a brighter and 

 deeper buff color than the northern 

 variety, and smaller; size 2.30x1.75. 

 Their nests are generally lined with 

 grasses and occasionally with feath- 

 ers. The female sits very close 

 when incubating and will not fly 

 until almost trod upon, trusting to 

 her variegated markings to conceal 

 her from observation. 



[Greenish buff 



3 I Oc. Rio Grande Turkey. Mcleagrte gallopavo inter mnl hi. 



Range. Lowlands of the southern parts of Texas and northern Mexico. A 

 sub-species which differs slightly in plumage and not at all in nesting habits or 

 eggs from the common Wild Turkey. 



31 



CURASSOWS AND GUANS. Family CRACID/E. 



Chachalaca. Ortalis vetula maccalli. 



Range. Ea'stern portions of Mexico, 

 north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

 in Texas. 



A very peculiar grayish colored bird 

 with a greenish gloss' to the back, and 

 a long, broad tail, quite lonu 

 and with the face and sides of the 

 throat devoid of feathers. They are 

 very abundant birds in some localities. 

 and very noisy during the breeding 

 season, their notes resembling a harsh 

 trumpeting repetition of their name. 

 They are ground inhabiting birds but 

 nest in low bushes. Their nests are 

 made of sticks, twigs, leaves, or nmss 

 [Buffy white.) ;ni(1 ;1)V ^,,,,,,-aiiy f ra il, flat structures 



only a few feet above the ground. During April, they lay from thive to five 

 buffy white eggs, the shell of which is very rough and hard. Si/e 2.2") x 1.55. 



PIGEONS AND DOVES. Order XI. COLUMB/E. 

 Family COLUIY1BID/E. 



Pigeons and Doves are distributed throughout nearly every temperate and 

 tropical country on the globe, nearly five hundred species being known. Of 

 which twelve occur within our limits.' Their plumage is generally of soft and 

 subdued colors, the head small, the wings strong and the flight rapid. 



