Vol. XXXIl 



1914 



] Wright, Early Records of the Wild Turkey. 469 



over my face and eyes; at last I contrived to seize his neck, and 

 soon put an end to the contest. As he was too heavy a burthen 

 for my little companion, I strung him across my back, and shoulder- 

 ing my rifle, returned in triumph to Leesburgh. During my walk 

 homeward I felt no disposition to complain of the cold; for inde- 

 pendent of my accoutrements, the turkey's weight proved, on my 

 arrival, to be twenty-eight pounds." 



Flint suggests another method for Kentucky in Boone's day. He 

 holds that ^ " A man stationed near one of these paths (buffalo or 

 bear paths) could kill game enough, with turkeys — in an hour, to 

 supply the wants of a month. In Virginia Bruce suggests a 

 method somewhat akin to that of Tibbits. He writes ^ " Of the two 

 varieties of game (partridge and turkey), it is probable that the 

 pursuit of the wild turke}' afforded the Virginians much exertion as 

 well as wariness to come up with it and kill it. Blinds of pine or oak 

 boughs were erected at different eligible spots in the woods, and 

 here, after scattering the flocks with trained dogs, the hunters would 

 hide themselves, and by skilful use of the yelp, soon call up the con- 

 fused and unsuspecting birds within range of the guns." 



In the country of the Chickasaws (1724), according to Du Pratz, 

 a dog is necessary to hunt them.^ " The second day I had a turkey- 

 hen brought to regale me. The discoverer who killed it, told me, 

 there are a great many in the same place, but that he could do 

 nothing without a dog. I have often heard of a turkey-chace, but 

 never had an opportunity of being at one. On coming to the spot, 

 we soon discovered the hens, which ran off with such speed, that the 

 swiftest Indian would lose his labour in attempting to outrun them. 

 My dog soon came up with them, which made them take to their 

 wings, and perch on the next trees ; as long as they are not pursued 

 in this manner, they only run, and are soon out of sight. I came 

 near the place of retreat, killed the largest, a second and my dis- 

 coverer a third. We might have killed the whole flock; for while 

 they see any men, they never quit the tree they have once perched 

 on. Shooting scares them not, as they only look at the bird that 



1 Flint, T. 1832, Vol. I, p. 348. 



2 Bruce, P. A. The Social Life of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century. Rich- 

 mond, Va. 1907, p. 212. 



3 Du Pratz, M. Le Page. The History of Louisiana. Paris 1758, London edit. 

 1774, pp. 134, 135. 



