44 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



SO I am satisfied," I replied, as I started back for the 

 blind with niy trophy. 



" The follow was so rheumatic that he couldn't bite 

 you, or he would have tried it," he said, and, to prove it, 

 he made a careful examination of the bird, and com- 

 mented on its apparent age and where I had hit it. 



When all its bad qualities were discussed, my com- 

 panion commenced calling again in the most careful 

 manner — now low and endearing, anon loud, command- 

 ing, and vehement, as if to denounce the males for their 

 want of gallantry in not responding to such appeals. 

 Having called in vain for two hours, we concluded to 

 change quarters, to see if we could not be more fortu- 

 nate, so we walked about a mile to an open piece of 

 woods, Avhich looked quite promising. Seeing the 

 ground scratched a good deal, we decided to build a 

 blind there and try our luck, for it was evident that the 

 birds were numerous somewhere in the vicmity. 



We set about our task immediately, and while busily 

 engaged on it, we were startled by the sharp and unex- 

 pected call of a turkey hen. This pleasant sound caused 

 my companion to suspend operations abruptly, and cock- 

 ing his ear, so as to catch the note in the most distinct 

 manner, he listened intently until the seductive call was 

 repeated, then answered it with a long and vokible gob- 

 ble, and when that Avas OA'cr he indulged in a quiet fit 

 of chuckling. I asked him what he was laughing at, 

 and received as a reply, "Do you want to fool that hu- 

 man turkey hen?" 



Thinking there might be some fun in the matter, I 

 assented willingly; and, when the next call was heard, 

 my companion and myself started in the direction 

 whence it emanated, while he kept pouring forth a vol- 

 ume of loud gobbles which would have done honor to 

 the sturdiest turkey-cock in the forest. When we had 

 traversed a distance of five or six hundred yards we came 



