Bill rather short, moderately stout, broader than high at the base,
somewhat compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its extremity
arched, thin-edged, and obtuse; lower narrowed and blunt. Head
partially denuded, rather small, oblong; neck long; body very large.
Feet stout, rather long; tarsus anteriorly scutellate; hind toe
elevated, anterior toes webbed at the base. Claws rather denuded,
obtuse. Plumage full, the feathers with a very large plumule and short
tube; those of the hind part of the back much developed. Wings of
moderate length, convex, rounded. Tail very large, of more than twelve
feathers. Tongue triangular, pointed; œsophagus dilated into an
enormous crop; stomach a very powerful gizzard, roundish, or
transversely elliptical, with very large muscles, and dense
epithelium, having two concave grinding surfaces; intestines long, and
rather wide; cœca very large, oblong, internally with elevated
reticulated ridges. Trachea cylindrical, without inferior laryngeal
muscles. Nest on the ground, rudely constructed. Eggs numerous. Young
covered with stiffish down.
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. Œsophagus dilated into a very large crop; stomach
transversely elliptical, extremely muscular; intestines long and wide;
cœca very large, oblong.