BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



109 



quences, yet, from the respectability of those, some of them eminent 

 physicians, who have particularized cases in which it has proved dele- 

 terious, and even fatal, I am inclined to believe that, in certain cases, 

 where this kind of food has been lonp- continued, and the birds allowed 

 to remain undrawn for several days, until the contents of the crop and 

 stomach have had time to diffuse themselves through the flesh, as is 

 too often the case, it may be unwholesome and even dang-erous." 



FAMILY PHASIANHX&. TURKEYS, ETC. 



SUBFAMILY MELEAGKIN^E TURKEYS. 



GENUS MELEAGRIS LINN.EUS. 



Meleagris gallopavo LINN. 



Wild Turkey. 



DESCRIPTION ( Plate 74). 



Length 3 to 4 feet ; extent 4 to 5 feet. Weight varies greatly ; males are said to 

 weigh from 16 to 35 pounds, and females from 8 to 14 pounds. Bare skin of head and 

 neck blue ; excrescences purplish-red ; legs red ; general color copper -bronze, with 

 bright metallic reflections, each feather with a narrow blackish border ; the brownish 

 quills are barred with white ; tail-feathers brown-barred with blackish ; upper tail- 

 coverts chestnut. Female smaller and much duller in color. The male has a long 

 tuft of coarse blackish bristles on middle of breast, and stout blunt spurs. 



Habitat. United States, from southern Canada to the Gulf coast, and west to the 

 plains, along the timbered river valleys; formerly along the Atlantic coast to south- 

 ern Maine. 



This noble g-ame bird, although rapidly being- extirpated, is still found 

 in small numbers in many wooded and thinly populated districts of the 

 state. I have seen a few Wild Turkeys within the past five years in 

 Juniata, Schuylkill, Snyder, Miniin and Blair counties. The following 

 list will show reports received from various g-entlemen concerning this 

 species in other counties : 



