414 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
but the former generally much exceeds the latter in size. The colour 
of the Wild Turkey is brown, mixed with blue and green, giving out 
a diaphanous metallic brilliancy. The full-grown male bird some- 
times measures over three feet, and weighs from twenty to twenty- 
five pounds. The American naturalist Audubon speaks of having 
seen one which was upwards of thirty-six.* The female is much 
smaller, and seldom exceeds ten pounds in weight. Her plumage 
cannot vie with that of the male in harmonious blending of colour. 
Although it does not appear constructed for the purpose, the mature 
bird is capable of taking considerable flights, crossing with ease 
in its wild state those gigantic rivers that traverse its habitat ; but, 
as a rule, this bird only takes wing when compelled, for it runs 
with surprising rapidity, distancing the common cur dog with ease. 
It accomplishes long journeys on foot; not, however, caused by 
atmospheric influence, but from want of sustenance. It is gene- 
rally towards the beginning of October that these migrations com- 
mence. The Turkeys then unite in groups of from ten to a 
hundred individuals, and seek a new abode; the males forming 
a separate party from the females. The necessity of protecting their 
young from the brutality of the old cock birds, who kill them if 
opportunity offers, inspires the hens with this habit. It sometimes 
happens that the emigrating band are stopped by a watercourse, 
when all evince great agitation by spreading their tails, uttering fre- 
quent gobbles, and yielding themselves to extravagant demonstrations. 
At the end of a day or two, after having inspected the neighbourhood, 
they mount upon the branches of some of the highest trees, and take 
wing to traverse the obstruction. Some of the young are certain to 
fall into the water, but they know how to swim. When all have 
reached the opposite bank, they run hither and thither as if they 
were mad, and from their recklessness at this time it is very easy to 
approach and kill them. These birds pair in February or March, 
according to latitude ; the females produce eggs six weeks afterwards ; 
at this time the hen secretes herself, as the male would break them. 
The nest is an indentation in the ground, lined with soft grasses, 
moss, and dry leaves. When the mother leaves her eggs to seek 
food, she carefully covers them with reeds or grass, the better to 
screen them from the sight of the fox, lynx, or crow. The incu- 
bation lasts about thirty days. As the time for hatching approaches, 
no power can make the mother leave her nest, no peril will cause 
Near Philadelphia, Penn., a breed of Domestic Turkeys, are to be found 
remarkable for their size—some are said to have reached fifty pounds weight.—ED. 
