V0l 'i9L5 Xn ] Wright, Early Records of the Wild Turkey. 365 



same time, Washington Irving makes several notes of the turkeys 

 in this southwest country. In the Osage country, he records it and 

 also along the Arkansas River. At the Red Fork, he finds x " a 

 number of turkeys." Later, he says the party "came to a halt, 

 in a beautiful grove of elms, on the site of an old Osage encamp- 

 ment. Scarcely had we dismounted when a universal firing of 

 rifles took place upon a large flock of turkeys, scattered about the 

 grove, which proved to be a favorite roosting-place for these simple 

 birds. They flew to the trees, and sat perched upon their branches, 

 stretching out their long necks, and gazing in stupid astonishment, 

 until eighteen of them were shot down." In Deep Creek or Little 

 North Fork, he writes, " The rich woody bottom in which we were 

 encamped, abounded with wild turkeys, of which a considerable 

 number were killed." 



In his "Expedition from Texas to Santa Fe," George William 

 Kendall frequently encounters turkeys. At San Antonio, Texas, 

 he reports 2 " We put up two or three turkeys near the branch, but 

 the underbrush was so thick it was impossible to get a shot at them." 

 Of the valley of the Brazos, he says that it " teemed in every species 

 of game. . . .elk,. . . ., wild turkeys,. ..." On the Red River, he 

 speaks of them at length. "We continued our march until we 

 reached the dry bed of a mountain stream, upon the banks of which 

 we encamped for the night. A flock of wild turkeys had taken 

 shelter under the banks, running off as we approached their roost. 

 Although contrary to strict orders, nothing could restrain our men 

 from banging and blazing away at the turkeys as they sped across 

 the prairie — fifty rifles and muskets being discharged at them 

 before they were out of sight. Two or three only were killed by 

 the volley and running fire which ensued and they were but half 

 grown, and so extremely poor that they did not furnish a meal for 

 half a dozen men." Of the same region, he again writes, " By-and- 

 by a brood of wild turkeys, which had been hunting for their 

 supper at the base of the rocky steeps, flew over our heads, and 

 sought their roost in a large cotton-wood which overhung the river. 



1 Irving, Washington. The Crayon Miscellany. Revised edit. New York, 

 1861, pp. 49, 68, 70, 108, 133, 134, 157, 191, 194. 



2 Kendall, George William. 2 vols. N. Y., Vol. I, pp. 54, 102, 256, 260. 



