1916] 



Miller: Review of Pavo Calif ornicus 



95 



In general proportions of the carpometaearpus, and in the nature 

 and position of the interdigital tubercle, the fossil species occupies an 

 intermediate position. In other respects this segment shows its closest 

 affinities to lie with Pavo. 



CONCLUSIONS 



It will be seen from this careful scrutiny of all the available 

 material, both Recent and fossil, that the original conclusion referring 

 the Rancho La Brea species to the genus Pavo was not without justi- 

 fication. Removal of the species from the genus Pavo and its reference 

 to the genus Meleagris would be an arbitrary step prompted simply 

 by the fact that Pavo is at present foreign to the Americas. Is this a 

 sufficient reason for such step ? 



If Marsh 4 be correct in his determination of Meleagris antiquus, 

 the genus Meleagris is one of long standing in the Americas. This 

 Oligocene species is based on the distal end of the humerus of a "large 

 gallinaceous bird approaching in size the wild turkey and probably of 

 the same group." It was contemporaneous with Oreodon in certain 

 lake deposits of Oligocene age east of the Rockies. The specimen was 

 said to agree in the main with Meleagris gallopavo, but to lack the 

 broad longitudinal ridge on the inner surface of the distal end opposite 

 the radial condyle, also to lack the abrupt termination of the ulnar 

 condyle at its outer superior border. The specimen was not figured 

 and there is nothing in the brief description which will place the 

 species in Meleagris rather than in Pavo. The only other meleagrines 

 known from America are M. celer Marsh and M. superba Cope from 

 the Pleistocene of New Jersey. There is no apparent reason for con- 

 sidering the differentiation of Pavo from Meleagris as running back 

 to Oligocene time nor for denying the presence of Pavo in the New 

 World up until Recent time. Still less is there reason for ignoring the 

 possible intermigration of Old and New "World phasianids. The dis- 

 tinction by ornithologists between Pavo and Meleagris is based largely 

 upon external characters. 



Osteologically Meleagris ocellatus is almost as near to Pavo as it 

 is to Meleagris gallopavo. Various authors have commented on the 

 impropriety of using a common generic name for the two American 

 turkeys, Chapman stating his attitude as follows: 5 "The differences 



* Marsh, O. C, Am. Journ. Sci., vol. 2, Aug., 1871. 



s Chapman, F. M., Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 8, art. 18, pp. 271-290, 1896. 



