FOOD OF THE TURKEY. 415 
her to desert her charge. On being hatched, the young Turkeys, 
under the protecting care of the old bird, are led to sequestered 
feeding-grounds, and do not leave her till the end of several months. 
Wild Turkeys have many formidable enemies—the most destructive 
being man; next the lynx and the eagle owl—they are, therefore, 
very wary, and when on the ground secrete themselves at the least 
appearance of danger ; but if perched upon a tree, particularly if the 
weather be wet and foggy, they are less guarded, and consequently 
can be more easily approached by the sportsman. On a misty 
moonlight night American hunters take their posts under trees where 
‘Turkeys are in the habit of roosting. Under such circumstances 
the flock will not attempt to escape, although numbers of their com- 
panions are being momentarily killed.* This apparent apathy is 
doubtless owing to want of sagacity for which, as well as for their 
ludicrous aspect and eccentric attitudes, Turkeys have gained a repu- 
tation for stupidity. This bird, however, sometimes gives proofs of 
intelligence of a high order, as the following fact, related by Audubon, 
proves. He had reared a Wild Turkey, which had become extremely 
tame, but the love of independence remained very strong in the bird, 
for it could not accustom itself to the pent-up life of its domestic 
relations. ‘Thus, it enjoyed the greatest freedom ; it went and came, 
passing nearly all its time in the woods, only returning to the house 
in the evening. At length it ceased to come home. Some time 
after the desertion of his pet, Audubon, whilst hunting, perceived a 
superb Wild Turkey, upon which he set his dog; but, to his great 
surprise, the bird did not fly, and the dog, instead of seizing it when 
it was overtaken, stopped and turned his head towards his master ; 
greater still was the hunter’s surprise when, having approached, he 
discovered his old pet. This bird had recognised the dog, and knew 
his confidence in his old friend would not be misplaced. 
Turkeys feed upon herbs, grasses, fruits, and berries of every 
description ; they are partial to beech and other nuts; and their 
liking for wheat and maize is such that they frequent the neighbour- 
hood of cultivated fields, where they make great ravages. They 
also occasionally feed upon insects, frogs, and lizards. The large 
destructive grub familiarly known as the tobacco worm they are 
particularly partial to, and are consequently encouraged by tobacco 
planters. Ina domestic state they are even known to have killed 
and eaten rats. One curious peculiarity in the history of the Turkey 
* In the woods on the margin of the Wabash river in Illinois I have known 
eighteen Wild Turkeys killed before the remainder of the flock became alarmed 
and took flight.---Ep, 
