The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 09 (of 10)Evans, A. H. (Arthur Humble)
Science
The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 09 (of 10)
Evans, A. H. (Arthur Humble)
Animals; Birds
Sub-fam. 2. _Meleagrinae._–Of the Turkeys,[153] there are only two species,
_Meleagris gallipavo_ and _M. ocellata_. The former has three
races–distinguished by the tail and its upper coverts being tipped with
white, buff, and chestnut respectively–the united range extending from
Southern Canada to Mexico through the Eastern and South-Western States.
They are coppery-bronze, with purplish-green and golden sheen and black
markings; the remiges being brown barred with white, and the tail black and
brown with broad dark sub-terminal band. The reddish head and neck are
nearly bare, shewing wrinkled warty skin and a pendent erectile process on
the forehead; a bunch of long black bristles decorates the chest of the
male, which has a stout spur on each metatarsus. The bill and feet are red.
_M. ocellata_ of Yucatan, British Honduras, and Guatemala, has black
plumage, tipped with brassy-green, and fringed with greenish-copper, that
becomes redder below; the rump region is steel-blue, and brilliant ocelli
of green-blue margined with copper mark the ends of the greyish rectrices
and their coverts. The frontal caruncle and the head are blue, with red tip
and excrescences respectively, while the pectoral tuft is absent.
The wild Turkey is wary and extremely quick of foot, spending the day
chiefly upon the ground and roosting high in the trees; it frequents wooded
country, and feeds upon plants, seeds, nuts and other fruits, with lizards
and insects. In spring the males fight viciously, and show off before the
assembled hens; strutting around with erect, outspread tails and drooping
wings, while uttering puffing and gobbling noises. Each cock having secured
a mate or two, breeding takes place, after which the sexes separate, but
combine again in autumn and wander widely in search of food. A hole,
scraped under some log or tuft of herbage, and lined with dry leaves,
receives the yellowish-white eggs with red-brown spots; the number varying
from ten to eighteen, or even more if several hens co-operate.
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