14 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
of the United States was formerly abundant in the region 
lying between the Atlantic Ocean and the Rocky Moun- 
tains, but it is now mainly confined to the Western and 
Southwestern States and Territories, though it is still 
rather common in some of the more densely populated 
States, but its habitat is confined to forests, cane brakes, 
or the vicinity of swamps where acorns, hazel nuts, and 
other mast are found. 3 
It is a much handsomer bird than its domestic con- 
gener, and has all the fire and spirit which distinguish 
creatures in a state of nature from those of the farm- 
yard. ‘The gobbler is a perfect specimen of pomposity, 
and, evidently, considers himself the emblem of stateli- 
ness. The female differs from him in several points, so that 
it is an easy matter to recognize her. She is, primarily, 
much smaller, less brilliant in plumage, devoid of spurs, 
and, generally, of bristles on tho breast, and the flesh 
process above the base of the bill is less developed. 
An adult male measures from forty-six to fifty inches 
in length, about twenty-five inches in height, and weighs 
between sixteen and thirty-five pounds, the average 
weight being twenty pounds. The female varies in 
weight from eight to eighteen or more pounds, the aver- 
age being twelve pounds. 
The largest. gobbler I ever heard of was said to turn 
the scales at forty pounds, but that weight is phenomenal 
even in Florida or Texas, which are considered the home 
of the giants of the Maleagris gallopavo. I may add 
here parenthetically that an old hunter told me that 
the Mexican variety (MM. Mexicana) attained an unusual 
size along the banks of the Rio Grande, in Texas. 
The head of the turkey is remarkable for its small size, 
compared with that of the body, but what it lacks in 
quantity it atones for in quality, for few of the feathered 
creation can equal the bird in those characteristics neces- 
sary to protect it from foes or to enable it to secure food. 
