107 



part of the State, but are very scarce. They were recorded as rare resi- 

 dents at Grinnell, Iowa. Iq Grant and Traverse counties, in western 

 Minnesota, they are "the common Grouse of the region." (Roberts and 

 Benner, Bull. Kutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, 1880, p. 17.) 



309. Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonap.). [479.] Sage Grouse ; Sage Cock. 



In the Mississippi Valley district the Sage Cock is found only along 

 the extreme wesfern edge of Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota. Colonel 

 Goss gives it as resident in western Kansas, and cites Mr. Cavanaugh as 

 having often killed it among the sage brush in the southwestern corner 

 of the State. The Colonel does not state whether or not there is any 

 other record of the occurrence of the species in the State. This record 

 has been called in question by Dr. Watson, of Ellis, Kans., who says 

 there is not, and never has been, any sage brush in the southwestern 

 part of the State, and hence no Sage Cock. He suggests that the bird 

 Mr. Cavanaugh saw was the Chaparral Cock (Geococcyx calif ornianus). 

 There is no reason to doubt the other records. 



310. Meleagris gallopavo Linn. [470a.] Wild Turkey. 



Occurs locally throughout the Mississippi Valley, south to eastern 

 Texas, and west to the plains ; resident wherever found. The range of 

 this " the noblest of American game-birds n has been gradually con- 

 tracted by its extermination in the settled parts of the country. In 1874 

 Dr. Coues gave its northern limit as not far from the southern boundary 

 of Minnesota. Dr. Agersborg states that it is resident, though not 

 common, in southeastern Dakota. In 1881 it was common in Knox 

 county, Ind. (Eidgway). It is still reported from Nebraska, Kansas, 

 and Illinois, growing more abundant to the southward until in Indian 

 Territory it is no longer uncommon. That it is abundant around Eed 

 Rock, Indian Territory, I can testify from personal experience. Here 

 it rivals the Prairie Hen in numbers, and lying well to a dog affords 

 splendid sport. In the winter of 1883-84 flocks were seen which were 

 variously estimated as comprising from two hundred to five hundred 

 individuals. In the southern part of the Territory I have seen the 

 bottom of a lumber wagon piled up with the results of a single night's 

 sport. If one wants Turkey hunting let him come to Indian Territory 

 from December 1 to the middle of January. 



310<x. Meleagris gallopavo mexicana (Gould). [470.] Mexican Turkey. 



This, the original ancestor of the domesticated Turkey, inhabits the 

 table-lands of Mexico, western Texas, and Arizona. Specimens referred 

 to this form were taken by Mr. Atwater at San Antonio, Tex., where 

 the species is resident •, its eggs also were secured. Mr. Lloyd says of 

 it in western Texas : 



Resident. Once very abundant on every creek, but now rarely to be met with. I 

 flushed a hen from her nest— a depression iu a patch of low bushes — May 29, 1882, con- 



