CBACIDiE. BIRDS. MELEAGRIDiE. clxxix 
nearly eleven inches ; wing, six ; tail, five and three- 
quarters. Another species of this genus, the Mon- 
tana, or Mountain Dove, is found in South America. 
No other species is known of this genus. 
BLUE-HEADED PIGEON {Starnosnas cyanocephala) . 
— 'I'his is another West Indian bird, that visits Key 
West and some of the Florida Keys. Audubon met 
with one pair at Key West, but could not procure 
them. They seem to be much more shy and distrust- 
ful than some of the other species. This is the only 
species of the genus. In external appearance and 
manners it is thought to resemble the Quails. 'I’he 
Blue-headed Pigeon has a blue bill, with the fleshy 
part at the base carmine ; iris, brown ; scales of 
the feet carmine, the inter-spaces white ; chin and 
throat black, with a narrow border of white below. 
Length, nearly eleven inches; wing, five and a half; 
tail, four and a quarter. 
Family — ORA CID A5. 
The Curassows. 
TEXAS CHACALACCA {Ortalida vetula). —'V\\\s 
bird is the only one of eighteen species of the genus 
that is found in the United States. It has somewhat 
the appearance of Wild Pigeon. 'I’he Chacalacca 
was first taken in the United States by Col. McCall, 
in 'i’exas, who describes it as a very gallant and spir- 
ited bird, inhabiting the extensive forests of Chapar- 
ral, which envelop the Resaca de la Palma. Here, 
and for miles along the Rio Grande, it was abun- 
dant ; and throughout this region the remarkable and 
sonorous cry of the male bird could not fail to attract 
and fix the attention of the most obtuse or listless 
wanderer who might chance to approach its abode. 
Its trivial name is given it by the Mexicans, which is 
probably derived from the cry of the bird. Its voice, 
in compass, is equal to that of the Guinea Fowl, and 
in harshness but little inferior. At sunrise these 
birds form a chorus with their harsh voices, which 
makes the forests ring again. Col. McCall adds that 
the volubility and singularity of its voice is its most 
striking and remarkable trait. 'I’he eye is said to be 
a remarkable feature, being full of animation and 
courage, equal to that of the Game Cock. It is 
frequently domesticated by the Mexicans, who esteem 
it for its fighting qualities. It is easily domesticated, 
and is sometimes crossed with a Game Fowl. 'I'he 
colors of this bird are brownish-olive ; the head 
plumbeous, lighter beneath ; eyes, brown ; bill and 
feet, lead color. Length, twenty inches and a half ; 
wing, eight and a half; tail, eleven. 
Family— MELEAGRID./E. 
'The 'I'drkeys. 
This family is entirely confined to North and Mid- 
dle America, and is represented only by one genus, 
Meleagris. 'i’he species now living are only two. 
'I’hree fossil species have been described, which indi- 
cates that the genus has been better represented. 
'Two fossils were found in New Jersey, in the Post- 
Pliocene. One of them (the M. altus of Marsh) was 
taller than the Common 'I’urkey. 'I’he other (M. 
celer. Marsh) was much smaller. 'I’he third species 
(M. antiquus. Marsh) lived at a still earlier date, its 
remains having been obtained in the Miocene beds of 
Colorado. 
WILD TURKEY [Meleagris gallopavo) — Plate VII. 
fig. xvi. — -'I’liis superb creature inhabits the eastern 
portion of the United States and Canada, reaching 
nearly to the Rocky Mountains, and south to the 
Gulf Coast. 'The Wild 'i’urkey was formerly abun- 
dant in New England and the Northern Atlantic 
States, but the march of civilization has gradually 
pushed it westward, or, perhaps, has extinguished 
the race in those localities. In Franklin County, 
Mass., individuals have been shot within a few years. 
Along the rich bottoms of the Mississippi and the 
Missouri Rivers they are yet plentiful. 'I’hey usually 
mate for one season, at least, though it is known 
that one male sometimes has more than one under 
his charge. Mr. Audubon states that the female is 
so devoted as to remain unmoved, even when he had 
approached near enough to reach her. 'J’hey become 
partially tame when kept in confinement. Dr. Bach- 
man states that they, when kept in confinement, sep- 
arate from the domestic birds, lose the brilliancy of 
their color in the third generation, become of a pale 
brown, and have here and there an intermixture of 
white feathers, 'the male 'I’urkey weighs from six- 
teen to thirty-five pounds. Its length is forty-eight 
to fifty inches; extent of wing, sixty inches; tail, 
eighteen and a half. 'I'he female is smaller, corre- 
sponding, in this respect, to most of the gallinaceous 
birds, and unlike many others, notably the birds of 
prey, where the female is much the largest. A 
Mexican variety is called M. gallopavo, variety mex- 
icana. “'This variety has the black subterminal zone 
of the tail with a more or less distinct metallic 
bronzing, which we have never seen in any specimens 
of the gallopavo.”— American Birds. 'I’his 
bird is regarded as the origin of our Domestic 'I’ur- 
key ; while the more eastern, the gallopavo, is not. 
The habitat of this variety is given as “ on the 
Rocky Mountains, from Western 'Texas to Arizona, 
and south along the 'Table-lands of Mexico.” 
Family — -'TE'I’RAONID^. 
'The Grouse. 
SPRUCE PARTRIDGE [Canaee canadensis). — -'This 
bird is also called the Canada Grouse, and the 
Spotted or Black Grouse. It is found in the 
spruce swamps of the North, extending to the Arc- 
tic Circle, and west nearly to the Rocky Mountains. 
Mr. Audubon met with numbers of them in Maine, 
in the vicinity of Eastport, in the tangled thickets 
of spruce and hackmatack. 'They were here breeding. 
In their movements they are said to resemble the 
Common Quail. While the female is sitting on her 
eggs, she will allow a very close approach to her nest 
without moving. Audubon says that they are, in 
some degree, weather guides, for when they go to 
roost early in the day there is sure to follow rough 
weather. 'This Grouse is sometimes kept in confine- 
