WILD TURKEY. 173 



The Wild Turkey is a bird of the forest, and loves to 

 dwell in the thick portions of the woods, or in the depths 

 of the swamps and similar retreats, where it is far re- 

 moved from man, and little liable to be disturbed by his 

 attentions. In places where it has not been persecuted 

 by hunters, or frequently shot at, if there are any such 

 remaining at the present day, the Turkey is not apt to be 

 any wilder or more wary than other forest creatures, and 

 it has been known to approach the dwellings and feed 

 among the tame turkeys and other domestic fowl. But 

 when it has learned man's ways, and that his presence 

 means death to any animal within the range of his gun, 

 no more cunning, suspicious, wary animal lives than the 

 Wild Turkey, nor one better able to take care of it- 

 self, though too often all its efforts to preserve its life 

 avail nothing against the ingenuity and persistency of its 

 human foe. The nesting season of this splendid bird 

 commences according to the latitude of its habitat, from 

 February, in the southern portion of its range, until June 

 in the northern. The males are polygamous, and every- 

 one is familiar with their pompous strut and attitude 

 during the courting season. The hen hides her nest 

 very carefully as well from the gobbler as from other 

 depredators, for he would not hesitate to make way with 

 both eggs and chicks if he had the chance, and she em- 

 ploys the same route both when approaching and leav- 

 ing her eggs. The nest is a simple affair situated near 

 some stump or fallen log, in the midst of a clump of 

 bushes or in high grass, in fact in any place where the 

 required concealment can be obtained. The comple- 

 ment of eggs is from seven to twelve; but occasionally 

 two hens will lay in the same nest, and then as many as 

 two dozen have been found. In such a case it would 

 naturally be supposed that both birds would sit together. 



