98 OUR DOMESTIC FO^^'LS. 



lead her brood to a distance, and usually 

 returns with them to the nest as the evening 

 comes on, where they rest during the night, 

 huddled up warm beneath her wings. As 

 they gain strength, they make wider ex- 

 cursions, -visit the glades and more open parts 

 near the wood, and there pick up various 

 fruits, berries, and insects, as grasshoppers, etc. 

 and the larvse of ants. They luxuriate in the 

 sun, and roll themselves in sandy places, or 

 in deserted ants' nests, and thus clean their 

 growing plumage. In about a fortnight, the 

 young begin to roost at night on the lower 

 branches of a tree, but still under the care of 

 the female parent who covers them with her 

 wings, as they sit in two parties crouching on 

 each side. 



After this period the growth of the young 

 turkeys is very rapid, and towards the middle 

 of August, when several broods under the 

 care of their respective mothers associate 

 together, they are quite able to provide for 

 their own safety and escape from enemies. 

 Their wings are vigorous, and their limbs 

 robust and active ; they easily mount into the 

 branches of the trees or run to shelter in 

 some covers. Soon after this period the gi'eat 



