212 Wright, Early Records of the Wild Turkey. [April 



seen; but birds are not numerous in desert forests ; they draw near 

 to the habitations of men, as I have constantly observed in all my 

 travels." Of an island in Lake George, San Juan River, he writes 

 "There are no habitations at present on the island, but a great 

 number of deer, turkeys, .... and turkeys are made extremely fat 

 and delicious from their feeding on the sweet acorns of the Live 

 Oak." Along the San Juan River, "I, observing a flock of turkeys 

 at some distance, on the other, (way) directed my steps towards 

 them, and with great caution, got near them; when singling out a 

 large cock, and being just on the point of firing, I observed that 

 several young cocks were affrighted, and, in their language, warned 

 the rest to be on their guard, against an enemy, whom I plainly 

 perceived was industriously making his subtle approaches towards 

 them, behind the fallen trunk of a tree, about twenty yards from 

 me. This cunning fellow hunter was a large fat wild cat (lynx) he 

 saw me, and at times seemed to watch my motions, as if determined 

 to seize the delicious prey before me. Upon which I changed my 

 object, and levelled my piece at him. At that instant, my com- 

 panion, at a distance, also discharged his piece at the deer, the 

 report of which alarmed the flock of turkeys and my fellow hunter, 

 the cat, sprang over the log and trotted off." At Halfway Pond 

 (Cuscowilla) " flocks of turkeys (were) walking in the groves around 



us, " On Alachua savanna, he records " flocks of turkeys" and 



near old Alachua town " on our rout near a long projected point of 

 the coast, we observed a large flock of turkeys; at our approach 

 they hastened to the groves" and again "we frequently saw,. . . . 

 turkeys . . . . , but they knew their safety here, keeping far enough out 

 of our reach." When 30 miles from St. Marks, he finds "the 

 forests and native meadows (abound) with wild game, as ... . tur- 

 keys, " At Tanase he " avanced into strawberry plains to 



regale on the fragrant delicious fruit, welcomed by communities 



of the splendid meleagris " 



In 1806, Priscilla Wakefield (1. c, p. 92) when at St. Juans, Fla., 

 writes of this species as follows : " Of a morning we have been awak- 

 ened by the beams of the new-risen sun, and the cheerful crowing 

 of the wild turkey-cocks, calling to each other from the tops of the 

 highest trees. In the spring they begin at break of day, and crow 

 till sunrise, saluting their fellows on the return of light." Twenty- 



