The Bird Book Part 38

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish buff.]

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[Ill.u.s.tration 191: RING-NECKED PHEASANT.]

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TURKEYS. Family MELEAGRIDae

310. Wild Turkey. _Meleagris gallopavo silvestris._

Range.--Eastern United States from southern Middle States south to central Florida and west to the Mississippi Valley and eastern Texas.

These magnificent birds, which once ranged over the whole of eastern United States, are being yearly confined to a smaller range, chiefly because of the destruction of their natural covers, and from persecution by hunters. They are generally very wary birds and either escape by running through the underbrush or by flying as soon as a human being appears in sight. Their nests are made under tangled growths of underbrush or briers. Their eggs, which are laid during April and May, range from eight to sixteen in number. They are of a buff color sprinkled and spotted with brownish. Size 2.55 1.90. Data.--Hammond, La., April 17, 1897. Fifteen eggs. Nest hollow sc.r.a.ped in the ground under a bush on the edge of a pine woods; lined with gra.s.ses and leaves.

Collector, E. A. McIlhenny.

310a. MERRIAM'S TURKEY. _Meleagris gallopavo merriami._

Range.--Southwestern United States from Colorado south through western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Mexico.

This variety is abundant throughout its range, its nesting habits and eggs being practically indistinguishable from those of the eastern form.

[Ill.u.s.tration 192: Buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sage Hen. Wild Turkey.]

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310b. FLORIDA TURKEY. _Meleagris gallopavo osceola._

Range.--Southern Florida.

A small variety of the Wild Turkey, about 42 inches long. They breed in the tangled thickets in the higher portions of the southern half of Florida, laying from ten to sixteen eggs of a brighter and deeper buff color than the northern variety, and smaller; size 2.30 1.75. Their nests are generally lined with gra.s.ses and occasionally with feathers.

The female sits very close when incubating and will not fly until almost trod upon, trusting to her variegated markings to conceal her from observation.

310c. RIO GRANDE TURKEY. _Meleagris gallopavo intermedia._

Range.--Lowlands of the southern parts of Texas and northern Mexico. A sub-species which differs slightly in plumage and not at all in nesting habits or eggs from the common Wild Turkey.

CURa.s.sOWS AND GUANS. Family CRACIDae

311. CHACHALACA. _Ortalis vetula mccalli._

Range.--Eastern portions of Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

A very peculiar grayish colored bird with a greenish gloss to the back, and a long, broad tail, quite long legs, and with the face and sides of the throat devoid of feathers. They are very abundant birds in some localities, and very noisy during the breeding season, their notes resembling a harsh trumpeting repet.i.tion of their name. They are ground inhabiting birds, but nest in low bushes. Their nests are made of sticks, twigs, leaves, or moss and are generally frail, flat structures only a few feet above the ground. During April, they lay from three to five buffy white eggs, the sh.e.l.l of which is very rough and hard. Size 2.25 1.55.

[Ill.u.s.tration 193: Greenish buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Buffy white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Chachalaca.]

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PIGEONS AND DOVES. Order XI. COLUMBae

Family COLUMBIDAE

Pigeons and doves are distributed throughout nearly every temperate and tropical country on the globe, nearly five hundred species being known, of which twelve occur within our limits. Their plumage is generally soft and subdued colors, the head small, the wings strong and the flight rapid.

312. BAND-TAILED PIGEON. _Columba fasciata fasciata._

Range.--The Rocky Mountains and westward to the Pacific, from British Columbia south to Mexico.

This large species may be generally recognized by the white crescent on the nape; it is about 15 inches in length. They nest abundantly on the mountain ranges, sometimes in large flocks, and again, only a few pairs together. Their nests are rude platforms of sticks and twigs either in bushes or in large trees in heavily wooded districts. The two eggs which are laid during May or June are pure white in color, and like those of all the pigeons, equally rounded at each end. Size 1.55 1.10.

312a. VIOSCA'S PIGEON. _Columba fasciata vioscae._

Range.--Southern Lower California. This is a paler variety of the preceding species and is not noticeably different in its habits, nesting or eggs.

313. RED-BILLED PIGEON. _Columba flavirostris._

Range.--Mexico and Central America, north to southern Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.

This species, characterized by its red bill, purplish colored head, neck and breast and absence of iridescent markings, is abundant in the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, where they build their frail nests in thickets and low bushes, and during May and June lay their white eggs. Size of eggs, 1.55 1.05.

314. WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON. _Columba leucocephala._

Range.--Resident of the West Indies; in summer, found on the Florida Keys. This species, which can be identified by its white crown, nests in trees or mangroves on certain of the Florida Keys, laying its two white eggs on its rude platform of sticks and twigs. Size of eggs 1.40 1.05.

Nests in April and May.

314.1. SCALED PIGEON. _Columba squamosa._

A West Indian species, a single specimen of which was taken at Key West, Florida.

A dark colored species, with purplish head, neck and breast; named from the scaly appearance of the iridescent feathers on the sides of the neck.

[Ill.u.s.tration 194: White.]

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