310 TURKEYS. 



immense flocks of Turkeys approach in the depth of 

 winter, that a traveller speaks of purchasing four of the 

 largest size, for about five shillings. 



From the journals of travellers in the interior of New 

 Holland, we learn that a species of wild Turkey is, in 

 some places, very abundant ; the bird has been described 

 .as resembling our Bustard, and is remarkably shy. We 

 liave heard, from a highly-respectable naturalist, of a 

 singular instinct in their mode of building their nests 

 ;and hatching their young. It is said, they collect a 

 mass of fallen leaves together, forming a considerable 

 pile, in the middle of which the eggs are deposited; 

 from the particular character of the trees usually found 

 in that country, the leaves arc full of moisture, conse- 

 quently, when collected, they soon heat, and the saga- 

 cious bird ascertains by some instinctive signs, the period 

 when the heat of the mass of leaves has continued long 

 enough to hatch the eggs, when the old one pulls the 

 heap to pieces, and, releasing the brood, leads them off 

 to the woods or plains. 



In their native wilds of North America, they herd 

 together in considerable flocks, but like the original in- 

 habitants of the country, the poor Indians, they are 

 every year becoming more scarce; driven from their 

 accustomed haunts by those who have taken possession 

 of their land. Partial as these birds are to Indian corn 

 and buck-wheat, they are very destructive visitors, and 

 the farmers, with reason, dread their approach, as fearful 

 devourers of their crops. 



Though on the whole, friendly and sociable birds, and 

 fond of travelling together in flocks, a good deal of 

 severe discipline is exercised by the old birds, particu- 

 larly the males, who seem to rule over the juniors with 

 a very strong hand. The young males, called Gobblers, 

 are compelled to live by themselves; for if they venture 

 to approach their seniors, they are sure of being severely 

 punished; and many are killed on the spot by repeated 

 blows on the skull. They frequently meet with great 



