THE TURKEY HISTORIC 89 



like it in all particulars. In other words, the eggs 

 of our various breeds of tame turkeys are like the 

 eggs of the several forms of the wild bird, that is, 

 the subspecies known to science in the United 

 States avifauna. Therefore I have not thought 

 it necessary to present here any descriptions of 

 the eggs of the tame turkeys or reproductions of 

 photographs of the same. 



Among the most beautiful of the wild turkey 

 eggs published are those which appear in Major 

 Bendire's work. They were drawn and painted 

 by Mr. John L. Ridgway of the United States 

 Geological Survey. 1 These very eggs I have not 

 only examined, studied and compared, but, 

 thanks to Dr. Richmond of the Division of Birds 

 of the Museum, and to Mr. J. H. Riley, his 

 assistant, I had such specimens as I needed 

 loaned me from the general collection of the Mu- 

 seum, in that I might photograph them for use 

 in the present connection. Dr. Richmond did 

 me a special kindness in selecting for my study 

 the four eggs here reproduced from my photo- 



^endire, Charles, "Life Histories of North American Birds with 

 Special Reference to Their Breeding Habits and Eggs." Washington, 

 Govmt. Printing Office, 1892. 



