20 AMEEICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



roads, and places where logs have been burned are favor- 

 ite dusting-grounds, and are such objects of interest that 

 flocks will travel a long distance for the purpose of revel- 

 ling in dirt baths. Their presence may be readily noted 

 in the forest by the manner in which the leaves are turned 

 over and the earth scratched about, but as they work 

 quite a large tract of country in a short time, a person 

 may have to walk several miles before he meets them, 

 especially if foxes and raccoons are any way abundant. 



The powts change their coat of dirty-gray to one of 

 blackish-bronze about the middle of October, and from 

 that time forth they are considered fit to be shot and to 

 furnish legitimate sport. All their faculties seem to be 

 fully developed then, and being fleet of foot and strong 

 of wing, and in the highest possible condition for the 

 table, they are deemed worthy the attention of the most 

 gifted sportsman and the daintiest epicure. 



When food becomes scarce in a region, the turkeys 

 form into flocks, numbering from ten to a hundred, and 

 commence a migratory tour in search of it. The adult 

 males keep by themselves, while the mothers lead their 

 broods, either alone or in company with other families, 

 for the gobblers are so jealous of the young that they 

 would kill them if they got the opportunity; hence the 

 necessity of keeping them apart. 



As the flocks move onward they are gradually joined 

 by others, until each drove numbers fifty and upwards, 

 and these remain together until they are dispersed by 

 foes or they voluntarily separate. Should they meet a 

 broad river during their migration, all ages and sexes are 

 said to make a stay of one or two days on its bank, pre- 

 paratory to crossing. This time is not idly wasted, how- 

 ever, as they devote it to strutting, running round one 

 another, expanding the tail feathers, gobbling vocifer- 

 ously, or making the loud pufiing or purring noise for 

 which they are famous, 



