NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 183 







fresh.* The nesting habits are the same as the common wild turkey. The eggs 

 are described as resembling those of the domestic turkey in ground color and mark- 

 ings; dark buff or creamy-white, more or less thickly sprinkled with spots of light 

 and dark umber-brown; they measure 2.40x1.80. The average size of twenty-eight 

 eggs, as given by Mr. Sennett, is 2.43x1.86; the largest, 2.50x1.90; the smallest 2.33 

 xl.72. 



310&. FLORIDA WILD TURKEY. Meleagris gallopavo osceola Scott. Geog. 

 Dist. Southern Florida. 



This is a new race of the Wild Turkey described by W. E. D. Scott in "The Auk" 

 for October, 1800. I have sets of what I presume to be this bird's eggs and have at 

 present considerable correspondence concerning its habits, and in all respects they 

 do not differ from those which are characteristic of the Wild Turkey of the North. 



310c. RIO GRANDE TURKEY. Meleagris gallopavo ellioti Sennett. Geog. 

 Dist. Lowlands of Southern Texas and Northern Mexico. 



The general habits, nesting and eggs of this geographical race are the same as 

 those of the preceding subspecies. This bird was first described by George B. Sen- 

 nett in "The Auk" for April, 1892, page 167. 



311. CHACHALACA. Ortalis vetula maccalU Baird. Geog. Dist. Valley of 

 the Rio Grande, southward into Mexico. 



The Texas Guan, or Chachalaca, is a remarkable bird, inhabiting the warm 

 tropical regions of America. It measures from twenty-two to twenty-four inches 

 in length, of which the tail measures from nine to eleven. Dr. Merrill states that 

 this is one of the most characteristic birds of the Lower Rio Grande region. "Rarely 

 seen at any distance from woods or dense chaparral, they are abundant in those 

 places, and their hoarse cries are the first thing heard by the traveler on awaking 

 in the morning. During the day, unless rainy or cloudy, the birds are rarely seen or 

 heard; but shortly before sunrise and sunset, they mount the topmost branch of a 

 dead tree and make the woods ring with their discordant notes. Contrary to almost 

 every description of their cry I have seen, it consists of three syllables, though oc- 

 casionally a fourth is adued. When one bird begins to cry, the nearest bird joins 

 in at a second note, and in this way the fourth syllable is made; but they keep such 

 good time that it is often very difficult to satisfy one's self that this is the fact."f The 

 Mexican name, Chachalac, meaning a noisy person or bird, is derived from the dis- 

 cordant cries of this species. The quality of these notes may be imitated by putting 

 the most stress upon the last two syllables. The compass and harshness of the 

 cries are said to be almost equal to that of the guinea fowl. The birds are said to 

 be easily tamed, and to cross with the domestic fowl. Dr. Merrill remarks that they 

 are much hunted for the Brownsville market, but the flesh is not particularly good, 

 and when domesticated the birds become troublesomely familiar, and are decided 

 nuisances when kept about the house. Mr. Sennett states that this bird does not 

 breed in communities, but in isolated pairs, and from all accounts, raises but one 

 brood in a season, unless the nest is despoiled, when the female will lay another 

 clutch, which almost invariably consists of three, rarely less. Mr. Norris has a set 



* Further notes on the Ornithology of the Lower Rio Grande of Texas, from observa- 

 tions made during the spring of 1878. By George B. Sennett. Edited, with annotations, by 

 Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A.; pp. 247-248. Extracted from the Bulletin of the Geographical 

 Survey, Vol. V, No. 3; Washington, November 30, 1879. Author's edition. 



t Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas 



