126 Goldman, In Search of a Neiv Turkey. \_h^. 



in single file, pausing occasionally to look warily about, until they 

 reached some high ground overlooking a small caiion along the 

 slopes of which stood several tall dead pines. The leader, a fine 

 old fellow of unusual size, stopped and the rest of the flock came 

 trailing up and gathered in a group, facing the caiion. Several 

 low, tremulous signal notes — guir-r-r-rt, quir-r-r-rt^ quir-r-r-rt, — 

 were uttered and suddenly they took wing altogether and flew al- 

 most horizontally out to the branches of the dead trees. After 

 leaving the ground no sound v;as heard except the heavy flapping 

 of wings. A few moved into the tops of live trees a short distance 

 farther down, but most of them remained in the dead ones. Their 

 behavior was in marked contrast to that of the females and young. 

 There was no crowding and no confusion, and in a remarkably 

 short time they were settled for the night and all was quiet. From 

 where I was lying their bodies appeared in the gathering darkness 

 like enormous black fruits, outlined sharply against the glowing 

 western sky. 



When it had become thoroughly dark, we cautiously approached 

 the trees and I took a stand almost under one containing several 

 birds. They were perched two or three feet apart so that only one 

 could be shot at a time. As we knew the old fellows were very wary 

 we held our guns in readiness as soon as we came within range 

 and prepared to shoot at the first sign of alarm. I sent my com- 

 panion to the next tree and told him to give a low whistle when he 

 was ready. I held my ten-bore gun leveled at one of the birds, and 

 it began to feel very heavy before the signal was given. When it 

 finally came I fired both barrels in quick succession and was much 

 gratified an instant later to hear a crashing noise among the 

 branches as two fine old gobblers came tumbling down, landing be- 

 fore me with a loud thump. Instantly heavy wing strokes could be 

 heard in all directions as the frightened birds left their perches. 

 My companion had also made successful right and left shots into 

 his tree. After some search we each located and killed another 

 turkey, after which no more could be found. We then gathered 

 the big birds together, swung them well out of reach of prowling 

 coyotes or mountain lions and started for camp. When about a 

 quarter of a mile from the roost I saw by the dim moonlight a dark 

 form among the branches of a big pine. A chance shot was made 



