WILD TURKEY. 643 



leaves, is made by the side of a fallen log, or beneath 

 the shelter of a thicket, in a dry place. The eggs, from 

 10 to 15, are whitish, covered with red dots. While lay- 

 ing, the female, like the domestic bird, always approach- 

 es the nest with great caution, varying the course at al- 

 most every visit, and often concealing her eggs entirely by 

 covering them with leaves. Trusting to the similarity of 

 her homely garb with the withered foliage around her, 

 the hen, as with several other birds, on being carefully 

 approached, sits close, without moving. She seldom in- 

 deed abandons her nest, and her attachment increases 

 with the growing life of her charge. The domestic bird, 

 has been known, not unfrequently, to sit steadfastly on 

 her eggs, until she died of hunger. As soon as the young 

 have emerged from the shell, and begun to run about, 

 the parent, by her cluck, calls them around her, and 

 watches with redoubled suspicion the approach of their 

 enemies, which she can perceive at an almost inconceiv- 

 able distance. To avoid moisture, which might prove 

 fatal to them, they now keep on the higher sheltered 

 knolls ; and in about a fortnight, instead of roosting on 

 the ground, they begin to fly, at night, to some wide and 

 low branch, where they still continue to nestle under the 

 extended wings of their protecting parent. At length they 

 resort during the day to more open tracts, or prairies, in 

 quest of berries of various kinds, as well as grasshoppers, 

 and other insects. The old birds are very partial to pe- 

 can-nuts, winter grapes, and other kinds of fruits. They 

 also eat buds, herbs, grain, and large insects ; but their 

 most general and important fare is acorns, after which 

 they make extensive migrations. By the month of Au- 

 gust the young are nearly independent of their parent, 

 and become enabled to attain a safe roost in the higher 

 branches of the trees. The young cocks, now show the 



