rthern variety, and smaller; size 2.30 x 1.75. Their
nests are generally lined with grasses 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.

CURASSOWS 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 repetition 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 shell of which is very rough and hard. Size
2.25 x 1.55.

[Illustration 193: Greenish buff.]
[Illustration: Buffy white.]
[Illustration: Chachalaca.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 192

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 rou