WILE TG AGLS Vie 173 
The Wild Turkey is a bird of the forest, and loves to 
dwell in the thick portions of the woods, or in the depths 
of the swamps and similar retreats, where it is far re- 
moved from man, and little liable to be disturbed by his 
attentions. In places where it has not been persecuted 
by hunters, or frequently shot at, if there are any such 
remaining at the present day, the Turkey is not apt to be 
any wilder or more wary than other forest creatures, and 
it has been known to approach the dwellings and feed 
among the tame turkeys and other domestic fowl. But 
when it has learned man’s ways, and that his presence 
means death to any animal within the range of his gun, 
no more cunning, suspicious, wary animal lives than the 
Wild Turkey, nor one better able to take care of it- 
self, though too often all its efforts to preserve its life 
avail nothing against the ingenuity and persistency of its 
human foe. The nesting season of this splendid bird 
commences according to the latitude of its habitat, from 
February, in the southern portion of its range, until June 
in the northern. The males are polygamous, and every- 
one is familiar with their pompous strut and attitude 
during the courting season. The hen hides her nest 
very carefully as well from the gobbler as from other 
depredators, for he would not hesitate to make way with 
both eggs and chicks if he had the chance, and she em- 
ploys the same route both when approaching and leav- 
ing her eggs. The nest is a simple affair situated near 
some stump or fallen log, in the midst of a clump of 
bushes or in high grass, in fact in any place where the 
required concealment can be obtained. The comple- 
ment of eggs is from seven to twelve; but occasionally 
two hens will lay in the same nest, and then as many as 
two dozen have been found. In such a case it would 
naturally be supposed that both birds would sit together. 
