In the Woods. 205 



It seems probable that the domestic Turkey is a descendant of birds taken 



at the time of the conquest from Mexico to Europe, and brought from thence 



by the early settlers to the Eastern United States. These 



1 ur ey. birds were crossed by the natural wild stock, then abun- 



Meleagris gallopavo Linn. ... 



dant m the country as far north as Maine. 



The Wild Turkey is now restricted to the regions from Pennsylvania 

 south to Florida, having become exterminated in its former northern haunts 

 and now becoming yearly more uncommon where it still occurs. 



The adult male birds are about four feet long and may be known from 

 the familiar domestic bird of dark color, by the reddish brown or chestnut tips 

 of the feathers of the rump and tail, which are generally white or cream color 

 in the domestic bird. Also by the wattles of the head which are much less de- 

 veloped in the wild than in domesticated birds. 



The female birds are much smaller than the males but the same features 

 will serve to distinguish them. 



The nest of the Turkey is placed on the ground under a bush or at the 

 base of a tree. The eggs vary much in number, from six to twelve and some- 

 times more. They are pale buff thickly speckled with fine brown dots, and 

 are about two inches and two fifths long and an inch and nine tenths in their 

 other diameter. The food of Wild Turkeys consists of seeds, nuts, grain, in- 

 sects, and the smaller reptiles and little fish. 



This is the geographical race of Wild Turkey occupying Southern 



Florida and ranging as far north at least as Sumpter County. It is a smaller 



and more intensely colored bird than the Wild Turkey of 



_ . the more northern regions, and has broken white markings 



Meieagris gallopavo osceoia taking the pkce of the white bars, conspicuous on the 



^=°"- larger wing feathers of the Wild Turkey. 



Of our native game birds the Ruffed Grouse, Partridge, or Pheasant, as 

 the bird is known in its more southern range, is a bird eminently calculated to 

 maintain itself against the constant onslaughts of sports- 

 Ruffed Grouse. ^^^^ j^g whole method of life, the localities it frequents, 



Bonasa umbellus (Linn.;. , . . . 111 



and Its extreme wanness where much hunted, seem to 

 insure its continued existence where other game birds have become scarce or 

 have disappeared. Even in the vicinity of large towns and cities, where there 



