1 •^>0 lewis's AMERICAN S P R T P M A X. 



east of Pennsylvania, and feAV — very few — in some of the remotest 

 portions of this latter State. Small flocks are found in the wild 

 and woody regions of Virginia, larger numbers in Ohio, Indiana, 

 Illinois, and Kentucky, but only in considerable congregations in 

 the unsettled tracts far beyond these localities. During the last 

 autumn, while shooting in the interior of Virginia, in company 

 with Andrew Staley, Esq., we encountered several of these birds ; 

 but they were in such straggling parties and so very wild that 

 little or no inducement was offered to hunt them. We were in- 

 formed, however, that a sportsman in that district, who followed 

 this particular kind of game with great zeal and ardor, had killed 

 some twenty or more during the previous season ; but even this 

 success, we are well assured, was only accomplished at a great 

 expense of time, patience, and real labor. Of all this, however, we 

 need not speak, as the sportsman, no doubt, in his own mind, was 

 richly repaid for all he endured. 



In the wilder portions of Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mis- 

 sissippi, and Alabama, they are still to be found in some abundance, 

 are more scarce in Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. 



We are greatly indebted to our esteemed friend. Doctor R. Percy 

 Sargent, who resides in the neighborhood of Natchez and devotes 

 much of his leisure to shooting and the study of the habits of 

 game-birds, for a letter containing much useful as Avell as practical 

 information regarding the wild turkey. From this article, so 

 kindly furnished us by the doctor, we shall in the course of this 

 compilation make some considerable extracts, as well as from 

 Audubon, to whom we owe neaiHy all our knowledge of the bird 

 under consideration ; for we must frankly confess that our own 

 opportunities of studying them in their native haunts have been 

 very limited. 



The doctor informs us that wild turkeys are still met with in 

 small numbers in the cypress-swamps, thick forests, and wild 

 ridges of the neighborhood around Natchez. They are, of 

 course, very Avary, cunning, and watchful of the approach of man, 

 and are only to be killed by those long experienced in hunting 



