152 REPORT OF JSTEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



on these barren grounds which were then visited by old and scientific 

 sportsmen, who regarded the laws of shooting. But lately, through 

 great persecution "by those who have no claims to the principles which 

 constitute sportsmen and who visit these grounds months before the 

 season commences by law and while the birds are in an unfledged 

 state, the Grouse are driven from this favorite abode. Year after year 

 has this unhallowed persecution of the Grouse been carried on, until 

 the species has been almost exterminated from the State." 



Family MELEAGRID-ffi. 



THE TURKEYS. 



310 Meleagris gallopavo silvestris (Vieillot). 

 Wild Turkey. 



Adult male. Length, 48-50. Wing, 21. Distinguished from the domestic 

 Turkey by the deep rusty tip to the tail, and chestnut instead of white tips to 

 the upper tail-coverts ; the dewlap, moreover, is but little developed, if at all. 



Long since extinct in New Jersey. Letters of early voyagers show 

 that Turkeys must have occurred throughout the State as they found 

 "stores of them" in Cape May county. 1 



Family PHASIANIDJE. 



THE PHEASANTS. 



To this group belong the common Chicken and the introduced 

 English Pheasant. 



Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus. 

 Ring-necked Pheasant. 



Adult male. Length, 30. Wing, 10. Tail, 18-20. General color coppery 

 chestnut, with bright purple and bronze reflections; neck, metallic blue; tail, 

 long and pointed, with darker crossbars. 



1 Beesley Geol. of Cape May, p. 166. 



