266 The Turkey Family 



snap at him was the impulse of the moment, and 

 he sank, struggHng furiously, with a broken pinion. 

 He fell into the open water, and immediately 

 began flapping for the farther side of the marsh. 

 The way round the marsh was long, and before 

 it was more than half covered, the gobbler had 

 reached firm footing and made off, running as 

 only a winged gobbler can. As there was no 

 trail to follow, he escaped. He must have flapped 

 across about thirty yards of deep, open water. 

 Those who have lost such a prize know exactly 

 what the subsequent sensations are like. 



When the young turkeys are sufficiently strong, 

 the hen takes them for long rambles through 

 woods, brushy lands, and opens. She is unremit- 

 ting in her care and watchfulness, her long neck 

 is ever stretching up and bending this way and 

 that, while keen eyes and ears form a double 

 guard of unsurpassed efficiency. The enemies 

 most to be feared are the large birds of prey, 

 foxes, coons, the lynx, and such of the cat kind as 

 inhabit the southern ranges. The great horned 

 owl is an aggressive foe, especially of half-grown 

 birds, of which he takes many off the roost. 



Bonaparte gives a most readable description of 

 the night attack by an owl upon turkeys roosting 

 in a tree. He says : " The owl sails around 

 the spot to select his prey ; but, notwithstanding 

 the almost inaudible action of his pinions, the 



