WILD TURKEY. 181 



Hab. — United States, from southern Canada to the Gulf coast, and west to 

 the Plains, along the timbered river valleys ; formerly along the Atlantic coast 

 to southern Maine. 



Nest, on the ground. 



Eggs, ten to fifteen, dark buff or cream color, thickly sprinkled with dark 

 umber -brown. 



Within the recollection of people still living, Wild Turkeys were 

 comparatively common along our south-western frontier. Mr. Wag- 

 staff, in his letter already referred to, says: "Wild Turkeys are getting 

 scarce. They were once numerous in Kent and Essex, going about 

 in flocks, but the severe winter of 1842 almost exterminated them. 

 About 1856 they had again become numerous, but are gradually 

 getting fewer in number, as the settler's axe clears away the timber." 

 In the "List of Birds of Western Ontario," it is stated that a nest 

 ■was found in the county of Middlesex in 1878. 



That veteran sportsman and naturalist, Dr. Garnier, of Lucknow, 

 writing under date of December 11th, 1884, says: "I have killed 

 several Wild Turkeys in the county of Kent, and saw one there this 

 season which I did not obtain. 



" On the 21st of last October, I had a female of this species in 

 my hands at Chatham station, which had just been killed near by. 

 About four years ago, at Leguis farm, near Mitchell's Bay, I saw 

 three gobblers, two of which I killed right and left, the third was 

 shot the same day by a boy, from whom I bought it for a dollar. 



" Most of the domestic turkeys in that section are either the wild 

 species tamed or half-breeds, and are far superior in flavor to the 

 ordinary stock. In 1856, I killed two out of a large flock within 

 half a mile of Hagersville, which at that time consisted of a wagon 

 shop, a toll gate, post-office, and a small shop called a 'store.' I also 

 got a set of nine eggs, and found the female killed by a fox, lying 

 close by, still warm but quite dead." 



The Wild Turkey has never advanced into Ontario much beyond 

 the southern boundary, the climate 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 appearances the day is not far distant when this valuable game 

 bird will be sought for in vain in the Province of Ontario." 



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. 



