438 GALLINACEOUS BIEDS. 



caused by atmospheric influence, but want of sustenance in the 

 country which it inhabits. It is generally towards the beginning 

 of October that these migrations commence. The Turkeys then 

 unite in troops of from ten to a hundred individuals, and go 

 towards the regions which they have chosen for their new abode ; 

 the males form a separate drove from the females, which march at 

 their sides, surrounded by their young families. The necessity of 

 protecting their young from the brutality of the old cocks, who will 

 kill them if opportunity offers, inspires the hen Turkeys with 

 this habit. It sometimes happens that the emigrating band are 

 stopped by a water-course, when all evince great agitation by 

 spreading their tails, uttering frequent gobbles, and yielding 

 themselves to extravagant demonstrations. At the end of a day 

 or two, after having inspected the neighbourhood, they mount 

 upon the branches of some of the highest trees, and take to the wing 

 to traverse the obstruction. Some of the young ones always fall 

 into the water, but they know perfectly how to swim : when all 

 have reached the opposite bank they run hither and thither as if 

 they were mad, and from their recklessness at this time it is very 

 easy to approach and kill them. These birds pair in February or 

 March, according to latitude ; the females produce eggs six weeks 

 afterwards. At this time the hen secretes herself in a place 

 unknown to the male, as he would break the eggs. The nest is an 

 indentation in the ground, lined with soft grasses, moss, and dry 

 leaves, and in it are deposited her embryo progeny, which are sat 

 upon with perseverance deserving praise. In this respect they 

 are superior to all Gallinaceous fowls, even surpassing the Domestic 

 Hen. When the mothers leave their eggs to seek food they are 

 always careful to cover them with leaves, the better to screen 

 them from the sight of the Fox, Lynx, or Crow. The incubation 

 lasts about thirty days. As the time for hatching approaches, no 

 power can make the mother leave her nest, no peril will cause her 

 to desert her charge. On being hatched, the young Turkeys, 

 under the protecting care of the old bird, are led to sequestered 

 feeding grounds, and do not leave her till the end of several 

 months. Wild Turkeys have many formidable enemies, the most 

 destructive being Man, next the Lynx and the Eagle Owl ; they 

 are, therefore, very distrustful, and when on the ground secrete 



