MELEAGRID^ — THE TURKEYS. 407 



ously moving into the same regions, but only in small family groups, each 

 leading its OMm flock, then nearly grown. Gradually they unite with other 

 families, forming at length parties of seventy or eighty. They are said to 

 avoid very carefully the old males, who have the very unparental disposition 

 to destroy the young birds even when nearly grown. These migrations are 

 made on foot except when they are compelled to cross a stream. On their 

 first coming to the banks of a river they are said to make a pause there of 

 one or two days before they attempt to cross, the old males strutting about 

 up and down the banks, making a loud gobbling, and calling to one another 

 as if to raise their courage to a befitting point. Even the females and the 

 young assume something of the same pompous demeanor, spreading out their 

 tails, running round one another, and making a loud purring noise. At length, 

 after this prolonged preparation for the passage, they all mount to the top 

 of a high tree, and, at a signal given by their leader, take flight for the 

 opposite shore. Occasionally some fall into the water, when these bring 

 the wings close to the body, spread out the tail, and plying their legs 

 with great vigor move rapidly towards the shore, where, by a violent effort, 

 they extricate themselves from the water. After thus crossing a stream of 

 any magnitude, they are often found in a bewildered state, and fall an easy 

 prey to the hunter. 



Where their food occurs abundantly they separate into smaller flocks, com- 

 posed of birds of all ages and sexes. At times they are known to approach 

 farmhouses, associate with the domesticated fowl, and enter the corn-cribs in 

 quest of food, passing the fall and the winter in this manner. 



Early in February the love-season is said to commence, the first demon- 

 strations being made by the males, but for some time persistently avoided 

 by the females. At this period the sexes roost apart. When a female utters 

 a call-note, the male birds within hearing return the cry, uttering notes simi- 

 lar to those with which the domestic Turkey greets any very unusual sound. 

 If the call-note has been uttered by a female on the ground, the males fly to 

 the place, spreading and erecting their tails, drawing their heads back on 

 their shoulders, depressing their wings with a quivering motion, and strutting 

 pompously about. At the same time they emit from their lungs a succession 

 of very peculiar puffs. On these occasions the males often encounter each 

 other, and desperate contests ensue, which frequently have a fatal termina- 

 tion, caused by furious blows inflicted on the head. When one Cock-Turkey 

 has thus destroyed its rival, it is said to caress the dead body in an appar- 

 entlv affectionate manner. 



When the Turkeys have mated, the connection is supposed to last for that 

 season, though a male Turkey is often known to have more than a single mate ; 

 and the hens are said also to keep apart from the males while they are laying 

 their eggs, for the cock would inevitably destroy them. At the end of the 

 love-season the males become emaciated, and cease to gobble. They then 

 separate entirely from the females, and keep apart by themselves until they 

 recover their strength, when they reunite in small flocks. 



