250 
ORDERS OF BIRDS— UPLAND GAME-BIRDS 
tives often constitute an important source of 
food supply for the Indians and Eskimos of the 
arctic regions. 
THE PHEASANT FAMILY. 
Phasianidae. 
The Pheasant Family was originally rep- 
resented on this continent only by the wild- 
turkeys; but during recent years certain foreign 
species have been successfully introduced, and 
WILD-TURKEY, FROM VIRGINIA. 
are now becoming so numerous as to require 
notice. 
The Ring-Necked Pheasant 1 has been in- 
troduced from China, and acclimatized in Wash- 
ington, Oregon, California, British Columbia, 
and elsewhere with pronounced success. In 
many localities it has become so abundant that 
now it is shot by sportsmen as upland game- 
birds once were killed in New York state. From 
Portland, Oregon, to Vancouver the taxider- 
mists are annually called upon to mount scores 
of these birds, because they are so beautiful 
that many of the sportsmen who shoot them 
cannot consent to see their skins destroyed. 
Following the examples of the Pacific states, 
Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsyl- 
vania, and several other states both east and 
west have entered seriously upon the business 
of breeding, rearing and introducing this valua- 
ble bird at state expense. 
The Silver Pheasant, and the very beautiful 
1 Phas-i-an'us tor-quat’us. 
Golden Pheasant, both natives of China, have 
also been acclimatized in Washington and Ore- 
gon. In view of the strong and hardy natures 
of both these birds, there should be little diffi- 
culty in introducing them in any well-wooded 
farming region east of the Mississippi, and 
south of the fortieth parallel. 
The Wild-Turkey 2 once inhabited nearly 
one-half of the United States; and, considering 
the great size of the bird, the earnestness of our 
efforts to exterminate it, and the very little 
that has been done toward its protection, its 
survival to-day is cause for wonder. It is yet 
found in a few heavily timbered regions in the 
East and South, — such as Florida, the Virginias, 
Pennsylvania, and a few of the southern states. 
It is doubtful if even one flock exists in the 
north anywhere west of Pennsylvania. In 
Oklahoma and Texas it still lives, but the gun- 
ners of the cattle-ranches are fast killing off the 
few flocks that remain. 
The Wild-Turkey is the king of upland game- 
birds. It has been given to but a few hunters 
to seek this bird in its native forests, witness 
its splendid flight, and afterward shoulder a 
giant gobbler weighing from twenty-five to 
thirty pounds for a ten-mile carry. He who has 
done this, however, will thereafter rank this 
bird as second to none on earth. In the United 
States only one species exists, but three geo- 
graphic races have been described. The wild bird 
so closely resembles the domestic turkey that 
almost the only difference observable is the white 
upper tail coverts of the tame bird. 
The Ocellated Turkey , 3 of Yucatan, British 
Honduras and Guatemala is a bird of more 
splendid plumage but smaller size than our 
northern species. Its name refers to the beau- 
tiful eye-spots of blue, green and purple which 
adorn the tail-feathers. The prevailing color of 
the body plumage is a rich metallic green, ex- 
hibiting the brilliant iridescence and burnished- 
bronze effects so strongly displayed in most 
turkeys in full plumage. On account of its great 
beauty, several attempts have been made to 
establish this species in zoological gardens, but 
thus far quite without success. It is to be hoped 
that future efforts will succeed. 
2 Me-le-a'gris gal-lo-pa'vo. Length of large male, 
about 46 inches; weight, 28 pounds. 
3 Me-le-a'gris oc-el-la'ta. 
