BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 169 
There is a regular ‘‘walk-around”’ as ludicrous to the disin- 
terested observer, as some of the performances on the comic 
stage. The birds run about in a circle, some to the right, 
others to the left, crossing each other's path, passing and 
repassing in stilted attitudes, stopping to bow, and squat, in 
extravagant postures, and resuming their course, till one 
would think their heads as well as their hearts were lost. But 
this is simply their way.” This is the inauguration of the 
season, and very soon the nests are located in places almost, 
but of course not quite, as various as the domestic hen, for the 
latter does not always place it on the ground, while the former 
always does. A moderate hollow is selected or made, and a 
little grass is arranged in it after which a dozen or more rather 
slimmer, and longer eggs than those of the Pinnated Grouse 
but differing very little from them in color, are layed in it. 
The young of this species have been seen just out of the nest 
as early as the 5th of May, and as late as the 20th of June. 
In sections of the northwestern and western portions of the 
State they are still abundant, but I have neither seen nor 
heard of any of them for several years in the southwest. Dr. 
Coues has a lengthy and exceedingly interesting description 
of this Grouse and its habits in his Birds of the Northwest, 
pp 407-419, which may be consulted for further information by 
those interested to learn. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Tail of eighteen feathers; colors white, black and brownish- 
yellow; above with transverse bars; the wings with round, 
white spots; beneath, pure white, with V-shaped blotches on 
the breast and sides. 
Length, 18; wihg, 8.50; tail, 5.25. 
Habitat, more northerly than the last species. 
Family PHASIANID_E. 
MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO L. (310.) 
WILD TURKEY. 
Thirty-three years ago the Wild Turkey was not a rare bird 
in northwestern Iowa and southwestern Minnesota, and it has 
been seen as late as 1871, in Minnesota, since which I have 
received no report from it, and [am of the opinion that it has 
now (1891) totally disappeared from our State. Possibly a 
straggler may yet be recognized in the southwest extreme of 
