398 THK FEATHERED TIUHES. 



or a river on their line of march, compels them to take wing. When about to cross a 

 river, they select the highest eminences, tliat their flight may be more sure, and, in such 

 positions, they sometimes stay for a day or more, as if in consultation. The males, on 

 such occasions, gobble obstreperously, strutti\ig with extraordinary importance, as if to 

 animate their companions ; and the females and young assume much of the pompous air 

 of the males, and spread their tails as they move sUently around. 



At length, having mounted to the tops of the highest trees, the assembled multitude, 

 at the signal-note of their leader, wing their way to the opposite shore. The old and 

 fat birds, contrary to what might be expected, cross without difSculty, even when the 

 river is a mile in width ; but the wings of the young and meagre, and of course those 

 who are weak, frequently fail them before they have completed their passage, when in 

 they drop, and ai-e forced to swim for their lives. This they do cleverly enough, 

 spreading their tails for a support, closing their wings, stretching out their necks, and 

 striking out quickly and strongly with their feet. All, however, do not succeed in such 

 attempts, and the weaker often perish. 



The wild turkeys feed on maize, all sorts of berries, fruits, and grasses ; while tadpoles, 

 young frogs, and lizards are occasionally found in their crops. The pecan-nut is a 

 favourite food, and so is the acorn, on which last they fatten rapidly. 



About the beginning of October, whilst the mast * still hangs on the trees, they 

 gather together in flocks, directing their course to the rich bottom lands, and are then 

 seen, in great numbers, on the Ohio and the Mississippi. When they have arrived at 

 the land of abundance, thej^ disperse in small promiscuous flocks of both sexes and all 

 ages, devouring all the mast as they advance. Thus they pass the autumn and winter, 

 becoming comparatively familiar after theii" journeys, and then venturing near planta- 

 tions and farm-houses. They have been known, on these occasions, to enter stables and 

 corn-cribs in search of food. Numbers are killed in the winter, and arc preserved in u 

 frozen state for distant markets. 



The beginning of March is the pairing-time, shortly previous to which the females 

 separate from their mates, and shun them, though the latter iDertinaciously follow them, 

 gobbling loudly. The sexes roost apart, but at no great distance, so that when a female 

 utters a call, every male within hearing responds, rolling note after note in the most 

 rapid succession ; not as when spreading the tail, and strutting near the hen, but in a 

 voice resembling that of the same turkey when ho hears any iinusual or frequently 

 repeated noise. 



When the turkeys are numerous, the woods, from one end lo the other, sometimes for 

 hundreds of miles, resound with this remarkable voice of their wooing, uttered respon- 

 sively from their roosting-places This is continued for about an hour ; and, on the rising 

 of the sun, they silently descend from tlieir perches, and the males begin to strut for the 

 purpose of winning the admiration of tlieir mates. 



If the call be gi-\en from the ground, the males iu the ■vicinitj' fly towards the 

 individual, and whether they perceive her or not, erect and spread their tails, throw 

 the head backwards, distend the comb and wattles, strut pompously, and rustic their 

 wings and body feathers, at the same moment ejecting a ])ufi' of air from the lungs. 

 Whilst thus occupied, they occa.sionally halt to look out for the female, and then resume 

 their strutting ami pullhig, moving with as much rapidity as llie nature of tlu-irgait will 

 admit. 



During this ceremonious approach, (lie males often encounter each o(]u>r, and desperate 

 battles ensue, when tlie conflict is only tcnninated by the death or flight of the 



• In America, acpordiiig to .Aiululinn, tlic tfiin must is not conlinid Id the I'riiil of tlu' bcccli, Imt is, 

 u.scd us a jfcncrnl nume for ull kinds of forest fruits, iin-huling even giapis luid lirnii's. 



