MELEAGHID.K — THE TURKEYS. 



403 



Genus MELEAGRIS, Linn.gus. 



Melcarjris, Linnaeus, Syst. Xat. 173-.. (Typo, Melcagris rjallopavo, Linn.) 



6e\. Char. Li-fjs with traiisverso scutclla' before niul buliind ; rctic'iilated laterally. 

 Tarsi with spurs. Tail rouiuled, rather loii};, usually of eighteen leathers. Forehciitl 



Meliasris galtopavo. 



with a depending fleshy cone. Head and the upper half of the neck without feathers. 

 Breast of male in most species with a long tuft of bristles. 



Species and Varieties. 



M. gallopavo. Head livid blue, legs red, general color copper-bronze, with 

 copper and green reflections, each feather with a velvet-black margin ; all the 

 quills brown, closely barred with white. Tail-feathers chestnut, narrowly 

 barred with black ; the tip with a very broad, subterminal black bar. ' 



Tail-coverts dark purplish-chestnut throughout, with the tips not lighter. 

 Tip of tail-feathers scarcely paler chestnut than the ground-color. TInb. 



Eastern Province of United States xar. gallopavo. 



Tail-coverts chestnut, the tips much paler, sometimes almost white. Tip 

 of tail-feathers light l)i'owni.sh-yellow or white ; sometimes with the coverts 

 broadly whitish. Hub. Southern portion of Western Province of United 

 States, from Texas to Arizona. Table-lands of Mexico, south to Orizaba, 

 Mirador, etc vht. mexicanus. 



