Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME V.
GENUS I.--MELEAGRIS, Linn. TURKEY.
Bill rather short, moderately stout, nearly straight, broader than high at
the base, somewhat compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal
line sloping and straight, toward the end decurved, nasal membrane large and
bare, ridge and sides rounded, edges sharp, without notch, tip thin-edged,
rounded; lower mandible with the angle very long, and rather wide, the dorsal
line slightly convex, the edges sharp toward the end, decurved, the tip
thin-edged and obtuse. Nostrils linear, with a large horny operculum. Head
bare, with a long fleshy wattle at the base of the bill; neck bare, carunculate,
slightly feathered behind. Head small, oblong; neck rather long; body very
full. Feet large and strong; tarsus rather long, stout, compressed, with two
rows of scutella in front, and the same behind, where there is also a conical
slightly recurved spur, about a third from the lower extremity; toes of moderate
length, stout, scutella; first small and elevated; lateral about equal, third
much longer; anterior webbed at the base. Claws of moderate length, stout,
arched, somewhat compressed, obtuse. Plumage compact, glossy; feathers very
broad and truncate; those of the rump elongated. Wings of moderate length,
concave, much rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills longest; secondaries
very long and broad. Tail rather long, very broad, much rounded, of fourteen or
eighteen very broad, broadly rounded feathers. OEsophagus dilated into a very
large crop; stomach transversely elliptical, extremely muscular; intestines long
and wide; coeca very large, oblong.