THE WILD TURKEY 69 



usually known as "blackhead," I have seen it stated that 

 the wild turkey is not subject to this like the domestic bird, 

 which, unhappily, is not true. A distemper, which has the 

 same symptoms as the well-known trouble, attacks the 

 young wild turkey under artificial conditions. 



This disease is supposed to be caused by an organism 

 about which specialists differ. It is evidently widespread, 

 as young turkeys die from it practically everywhere. Adult 

 birds are better able to resist it. The main hope, as in the 

 case of the quail disease, seems to be to learn to feed and 

 handle the stock so that it will keep in healthy condition and 

 resist infection. Wild galUnaceous birds may habitually 

 carry various organisms in their systems, as the diseases 

 seem to break out when they are improperly fed or handled. 

 In the case of the turkey, the chief danger seems to lie in 

 close confinement and fouling of the ground through over- 

 crowding, especially in conjunction with cold, wet weather. 

 Harry T. Rogers found that sour milk curd as an article of 

 diet was very important for keeping young turkeys in health. 



Woodmont System. To describe adequately the best 

 methods for the propagation of the wild turkey, the best 

 thing I can do will be to give in detail the methods used by 

 Henry P. Bridges, secretary of the Woodmont Rod and Gun 

 Club, on the preserve of the club and his private farm, both 

 in Washington County, Maryland, a most picturesque moun- 

 tainous region along the Potomac River. He breeds the 

 genuine wild turkey in captivity quite successfully, and also 

 has a splendid system for attracting and holding large num- 

 bers in the wild state. 



Holding Wild Coveys. The latter undertaking is based 

 upon planting foods, destroying vermin, and regulating 

 shooting. The club owns or controls a large tract of land, 

 principally forest, among the mountains. Bridle-paths run 



