WILD TURKEY. 19 



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 grass- 

 hoppers and other insects. The old birds are very partial to 

 pecan nuts, winter grapes, and other kinds of fruits. They also 

 eat buds, herbs, grain, and large insects ; but their most gen- 

 eral and important fare is acorns, after which they make exten- 

 sive migrations. By the month of August 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 tuft of hair upon the breast and begin to 

 strut and gobble, and the young hens already purr and leap. 



One of the most crafty enemies which the Wild Turkey has 

 to encounter is the lynx, or wild-cat, who frequently seizes his 

 prey by advancing round and waiting its approach in ambush. 



Like most other GalUnaceous birds, these Turkeys are fond 

 of wallowing on the ground and dusting themselves. When 

 approached by moonlight, they are readily shot from their 

 roosting-tree, one after another, without any apprehension 

 of their danger, though they would dodge or fly instantly 

 at the sight of the Owl. The Gobblers, during the season of 

 their amorous excitement, have been known even to strut over 

 their dead companions while on the ground, instead of seek- 

 ing their own safety by flight. 



In the spring the male Turkeys are called by a whistle made 

 of the second joint-bone of the wing of the bird, which pro- 

 duces a sound somewhat similar to the voice of the female ; 

 and on coming up to this call they are consequently shot. 

 They are likewise commonly caught in quadrangular pens 

 made of logs crossing each other, from which is cut a slanting 

 covered passage sufficient to allow the entrance of the Turkey. 

 Com is then scattered in a train to this cage for some distance 

 as well as within ; and the neighboring birds in the surround- 

 ing woods having discovered the grain, call on each other by a 

 clucking, and entering one at a time, they become secured in 

 the pen, as, for the purpose of escape, they constantly direct 

 their view upwards instead of stooping to go out by the path 

 which they had entered. 



