THE TURKEY. 93 



tails for a support, closing the wings to tlie 

 body, stretching the neck forwards, and strik- 

 ing out quickly and forcibly with their legs. 

 If in thus endeavouring to gain the land, they 

 approach an elevated or inaccessible bank, 

 their exertions are remitted, they resign them- 

 selves to the stream for a short time, in 

 order to gain strength, and then with one 

 violent effort escape from the water. But in 

 this attempt all are not successful : some of 

 the weaker, as they cannot rise sufficiently 

 high in the air to clear the bank, fall again 

 and again into the water, and thus miserably 

 perish. Immediately the turkeys have suc- 

 ceeded in crossing a river, they for some time 

 ramble about without any unanimity of pur- 

 pose, and a great many are destroyed by the 

 hunters, although they are then least valuable. 

 "When the turkeys have arrived in their 

 land of abundance, they disperse in small 

 flocks, composed of individuals of all sexes 

 and ages intermingled, who devour all the 

 mast as they advance. This occurs about 

 the middle of November. It has been ob- 

 served that, after these long journeys the 

 turkeys become so familiar 'as to venture 

 on the plantations, and even approach so near 



