The Wild Turkey 261 



race, now scientifically known as Meleagris gallo- 

 pavo, of Texas and Mexico. 



The young, for a time, are very delicate, any- 

 thing like a wetting being almost certainly fatal 

 to them. The hen knows this, and she is ex- 

 tremely careful not to lead her chicks into damp 

 cover, or to allow them to expose themselves to 

 even a smart shower. Under her ample feathery 

 tent they are well protected, and she keeps them 

 there till her loving instinct tells it is safe for 

 them to move. An old farmer once told me that 

 he had seen a hen cover her chicks before a 

 shower which began shortly after he had finished 

 his breakfast. He was working in a bit of woods, 

 and when he went to the house for his dinner the 

 hen had not moved, although the rain had entirely 

 ceased some three hours before. After the young 

 have attained the size of grouse they appear to 

 shake off all infantile weaknesses, and, once 

 matured, they are as hardy as so many deer. 



The chief food of the chicks is insects, notably 

 grasshoppers, of which they are persistent hunters. 

 As the season advances they devour seeds, berries, 

 grapes, and grain. Later, they turn to mast, 

 especially acorns and chestnuts. As the nuts 

 of a district become exhausted, the birds shift 

 headquarters to new territory. About this time 

 two or more broods are apt to join forces, which 

 fact probably accounts for the very large flocks 



