370 GALLIN.E. 



and seek their food apart from the females, who are 

 occupied in feeding' their young* and concealing them 

 from the attacks of the other sex ; but should the 

 parties meet in some ground where their favourite 

 food is ver}^ abundant, they intermix and partake of 

 the repast. Turkeys are found in a wild state 

 throughout North America, from Canada to the 

 Isthmus of Panama ; and far from being improved 

 by the care of man, they have become remarkably 

 degenerated in a state of domesticity. The wild 

 bird when at liberty will weigh from twenty to sixty 

 pounds, and when standing upright will measure at 

 least three feet in height. Formerly these birds 

 were common in Canada and in the central parts of 

 the United States, but they have gradually fallen 

 back before the advance of cultivation, although they 

 seem to yield their country to the husbandman only 

 inch by inch. Still, it is not difficult to predict that 

 the time of their complete extirpation is not remote. 

 The wild Turkeys live for the most part in the 

 forests, where they feed upon fruits. During the 

 summer time they associate in little bands, but in 

 the winter unite to form flocks, which issue from 

 their retreat and approach inhabited districts. This 

 season is called by the North American Indians the 

 Turkey month, and during its continuance great 

 numbers are killed, and preserved in a frozen state 

 to be transported to the European settlements. It 

 is only in the remote parts of the country that these 

 birds can be said to be met with in abundance. 

 They are very wild ; and although much larger than 

 the domesticated race, are not easily met with except 

 by accident, in their chosen retreats ; for, on the 

 slightest alarm, they at once hide themselves among 

 the long grass and impenetrable brushwood, which 

 is likewise their usual defence against birds of prey. 

 Moreover, they are naturally in the habit of acting 

 as guardians to each other ; the first who perceives 

 the approach of a stranger, even at a distance, utters 

 a cry of alarm, and in an instant they vanish among 



