109 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
quences, yet, from tlie respectability of those, some of them eminent 
physicians, who have particularized cases in which it has proved dele¬ 
terious, and even fatal, I am inclined to believe that, in certain cases, 
where this kind of food has been long continued, and the birds allowed 
to lemain undrawn for several days, until the contents of the crop and 
stomach have had time to diffuse themselves through the flesh, as is 
too often the case, it may be unwholesome and even dangerous.” 
Family PHASIANID.®. Turkeys, Etc. 
Subfamily MELEAGRINgE Turkeys. 
Genus MELEAGRIS Linnaeus. 
Meleagris gallopavo Linn. 
Wild Turkey. 
Description (Plate 74 ). 
Length 3 to 4 leet; extent 4 to 5 feet. Weight varies greatly ; males are said to 
weigh from 16 to 35 pounds, and females from 8 to 14 pounds. Bare skin of head and 
neck blue ; excrescences purplish-red ; legs red ; general color copper-bronze, with 
bright metallic reflections, each feather with a narrow blackish border ; the brownish 
quills are barred with white ; tail-feathers brown-barred with blackish ; upper tail- 
coverts chestnut. Female smaller and much duller in color. The male has a long 
tuft of coarse blackish bristles on middle of breast, and stout blunt spurs. 
Habitat .—United States, from southern Canada to the Gulf coast, and west to the 
plains, along the timbered river valleys; formerly along the Atlantic coast to south¬ 
ern Maine. 
This noble game bird, although rapidly being extirpated, is still found 
in small numbers in many wooded and thinly populated districts of the 
state. I have seen a few Wild Turkeys within the past five years in 
Juniata, Schuylkill, Snyder, Mifflin and Blair counties. The following 
list will show reports received from various gentlemen concerning this 
species in other counties: 
County. 
Observers. 
Remarks. 
• 
Bedford. 
L. J. McGregor. 
Resident : most frequently seen in southern part of 
county. 
Bradford. 
J. L. Camp. 
Resident; rare. 
Beaver. 
Dr. G. A. Scroggs. . . . 
One killed here in 1880. 
Berks. 
D. F. Keller. 
Resident; breeds sparingly in Blue mountains. 
Center. 
W. P. Fisher. 
Resident. 
Cumberland. 
T. L. Neff. 
Resident. 
Do. .... 
Prof. S' B. Helgis. . . 
Rather plentiful in North mountains; flocks 7 to 9. 
They are quite numerous in Perry county. 
Columbia. 
Dr. A. B. MacCrea. . . 
Breeds. 
Dauphin. 
W. W. Stoey. 
Resident. 
Elk. 
Capt. A. A. Clay. . . . 
Very rare. 
Franklin. 
H. B. Craig. 
Few still found on North mountain and * ‘ Pine Hills. " 
Lycoming. 
August Kock. 
Resident. 
Do. . 
Charles H. Eldon. ! . . 
Resident. 
Lebanon. 
J. G. Bohn, . 
Resident. 
Do. . 
Geo. R. Ross. 
Resident. 
Luzerne. 
Geo. P. Friant, .... 
A few have been killed in this valley in recent years on 
the range near Pittston. 
