OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. I5I 



The Wild Turkey has never advanced into Ontario much 

 beyond the southern boundary, the cHmate being evidently too 

 severe, and the locality from other causes perhaps not very 

 attractive. The few which still remain are more hunted 

 as they become more rare, and to all appearance the day is not 

 far distant when this valuable game bird will be sought for in 

 vain in the Province of Ontario. 



In the south a second species is found which is believed to 

 be the parent of the domestic stock. It is more of a southern 

 bird, being found chiefly in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and 

 southward. 



Order COLUMBtE. Pigeons. 



Family COLUMBID^. Pigeons. 



Genus ECTOPISTES Swainson. 



128. ECTOPISTES MIGRATORIUS (Linn.). 315. 



Passenger Pigeon. 



Adult-male : — Dull blue above with olivaceous tinge on back, below dull 

 purplish -red, whitening on vent and crissum ; sides of neck golden and ruby ; 

 some wing-coverts black-spotted ; quills blackish, with slaty, whitish and 

 rufous edging ; middle tail-feathers bluish-black, the others white or ashy, 

 the inner webs basally black with chestnut patch ; bill black ; feet coral-red ; 

 female and young duller and more brownish or olivaceous above, below dull 

 grayish, with a tawny tinge anteriorly, or quite gray ; very young have the 

 feathers skirted with whitish ; length, 15-17 ; wing, 7-8 ; tail about the same. 



Hab. Eastern North America, from Hudson's Bay southward, and west 

 to the Great Plains ; sti-aggling westward to Nevada and Washington 

 Territory. 



Nest on bushes or small trees, loosely built of twigs. 



Eggs, I or 2 ; pure white. 



As its name implies, this is a migratory species, but it has 

 not, like many others, a regular migratory course which it 

 instinctively follows year after year in the same direction. On 

 the contrary, the movements of the Wild Pigeon are quite 

 irregular, and guided only by the instinct which directs the 

 birds in. their search for food. A few straggling pairs are still 



