Plate XXXIX. 



Fig. 2. MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO AMERICANA-Wild Turkey. 



In February the Wild Turkey hens separate from the flock formed the previous autumn, and each 

 mates with some chosen gobbler. In April the nest is constructed and the eggs deposited. Incubation 

 lasts four weeks. But one brood is reared during the season. 



LOCALITY: 



The locality generally selected for the nest is a dry piece of woods adjoining the bottom-lands in 

 which the winter is passed. Often Turkeys make considerable excursions from their accustomed haunts 

 to some high ground with large trees and thick undergrowth, in which to build and rear their young, away 

 from the gobblers of the flock, and out of the reach, as far as possible, of the hawks and crows. 



POSITIO:^' : 



The nest is placed upon the ground, under the top of a fallen tree, beside a log, in a clump of 

 bushes, or some such place that offers the proper protection and concealment, 



MATERIALS : 



The nest shows but little art, and occupies in construction but little time. A slight hollow is scratched 

 in the soft loam, and this is covered with dead leaves, so as to make a dry, soft concavity in which to 

 place the eggs. 



EGGS: 



The complement of eggs varies from ten to twenty. Sometimes thirty or forty eggs are found in a 

 set, but in such cases probably two or more hens occupy the same nest. 



The ground-color of the shell is a light dirty bufi". The markings consist of spots and speckles, 

 rarely blotches, of a darker shade of the same color or yellowish-brown. They are distributed over the 

 entire shell, but are most abundant about the base, where they are also sometimes larger, darker color, 

 and at times slightly confluent. :Nearly every egg has upon it a group of spots larger and darker than 

 the rest, and while this generally occurs at the base, it may be upon any part of the shell, or there 

 may be two or three such groups. They measure in long-diameter from 2.30 to 2.80, and in short-diameter 

 from 1.70 to 1.94. The usual size is about 2.50 x 1.88. 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 



The nest and eggs of the Wild Turkey can be easily identified; the former by its position, mate- 

 terials, and size; the latter by their dimensions, shape, and markings. 



131 



