The Wild Turhey. SI 



f^Tod : they also feed upon a small red 

 acorn, which, in the vrarm and fertile parts 

 of America, is ripe in March, when the 

 turkeys become so fat, as to be unable to 

 fly more than a few hundred yards, axid 

 are then soon run down by dogs aiid 

 horsemen. They roost upon the highest 

 trees, and are very easily shot or other- 

 wise destroyed, being a heedless and stupid 

 bird. Since the plantmg and cultivaiioFi^ 

 of such extensive tracts in America, tiie 

 wild breed of turkeys has been driven into 

 the uncultivated regions, arid- has lonj^ 

 since become very rare. The Indiains 

 make elegant clothing and beautiful i^ns 

 of wild turkey feathers, and the French oi 

 Louisania, manufacture them into um- 

 brellas. The antipathy which the turkey- 

 cock entertains for any thing of a red 

 colour, is well known : and will indeed 

 never be forgotten by myself, who, at 

 about the age of eight years, having on a 

 red waistcoat, was chased by two of them, 

 around a very extensive yard, to my most 

 terrible affright and discomfiture. The coun- 



