THE TURKEY HISTORIC 81 



mexicana of Gould (P. Z. S. 1856, p. 61), which 

 indeed it very much resembles, especially in 

 having its tail-coverts and quills tipped with 

 white or light ochreous — points that recent 

 North American ornithologists rely upon as dis- 

 tinctive of this form. If this supposition be 

 true, there would be reason to believe in the 

 double introduction of the bird into England at 

 least, as already hinted, but positive information 

 is almost wholly wanting." {Ibid,, p. 996.). 



It is an interesting fact that the males of both 

 the wild and tame forms of turkeys frequently 

 lack spurs; 1 and Henshaw has pointed out that 

 in the case of M. g. merriami "A few of the gob- 

 blers had spurs; in one instance these took the 

 form of a blunt, rounded knob half an inch long. 

 In others, however, it was much reduced, and 

 in others still the spur was wanting; though my 

 impression is that all the old males had this wea- 

 pon." 2 



One of the best articles which have been con- 

 tributed to the present part of our subject, ap- 



x Woodhouse, Dr. (Amer. Nat. vii, 1873, p, 326.). 

 2 Henshaw, H. W. Rept. Geogr. and Geol. Expl. and Surv. West of the 

 100th meridian. 1875. Chap. III. The Ornith. Coll. 1871-1874, p. 435. 



