THE TURKEYS. icg 



most parts of Florida, north of Lake Okeechobee, ^Yith per- 

 ha}:s the exception of the Indian River region, but they have 

 gradually decreased in numbers since then, and though still 

 common in places where the country is wild and unsettled, 

 they are rapidly disappearing from those parts, in the vicinity 

 of villages and navigable waters. 



''One can hardly believe that the Wild Turkeys of to-day 

 are of the same species as those of fifteen or twenty years ago. 

 Then they were rather stupid birds, which it did not require much 

 skill to shoot, but now I do not know of a game-bird or mammal 

 more alert or more difficult to approach. Formerly, I have often, 

 as they were sitting in trees on the banks of some stream, passed 

 very near them, both in row-boats and in steamers, without 

 causing them to fly, and I once, with a party of friends, ran a 

 small steamer within twenty yards of a flock, which did not 

 take wing until several shots had been fired at them. . . . 

 These birds, though resident, are given to wandering a great 

 deal, and do not, like the Bob Whites, become attached to any 

 particular locality. At times they will remain in a favourable 

 place for weeks, but they are very uncertain, and will often 

 leave such a spot for no apparent reason. When they are 

 molested, or when there is a scarcity of food, they will keep in 

 motion most of the time during the day, and will often travel 

 many miles in a few hours. 



" Wild Turkeys usually go in flocks, consisting of from two 

 or three to fifteen or twenty birds, and are also occasionally 

 found singly. Small flocks and single birds are more apt to 

 be found now than formerly, and the large droves, consisting 

 of several flocks associating together, are seldom if ever to be 

 seen of late. Their favourite places of resort are woods with 

 swamps in them or in their vicinity, and they always go to 

 these swamps to roost or when molested. 



*' These birds are polygamous, and the female takes all the 

 cares and duties of incubation upon herself. The gobblers 

 are very pugnacious, and will often fight fiercely for the favours 



