THE TURKEY. 13J3 



branches of trees, they are easily discovered by the 

 large owls, and, when attacked by these prowling 

 birds, often escape by a somewhat remarkable ma- 

 noeuvre. The owl sails around the spot to select his 

 prey ; but, notwithstanding the almost inaudible ac- 

 tion of his pinions, the quick ear of one of the slum- 

 berers perceives the danger, which is immediately 

 announced to the whole party by a chuck; thus 

 alarmed, they rise on their legs, and watch the mo- 

 tions of the owl, who, darting like an arrow, would 

 inevitably secure the individual at which he aimed, 

 did not the latter suddenly drop his head, squat, and 

 spread his tail over his back ; the owl the,n glances 

 over without inflicting any injury, at the very instant 

 that the turkey suffers himself to fall headlong to- 

 wards the earth, where he is secure from his dreaded 

 enemy. 



" On hearing the slightest noise, wild turkeys con- 

 eal themselves in the grass, or among ishrubs, and 

 thus frequently escape the hunter, or the sharp-sighted 

 birds of prey. The sportsman is unable to find them 

 during the day, unless he has a dog trained for the 

 purpose ; it is necessary to shoot them at a very short 

 distance, since, when only wounded, they quickly 

 disappear, and, accelerating their motion by a sort 

 of half flight, run with so much speed, that the 

 swiftest hunter cannot overtake them. The travel 

 ler, driving rapidly down the declivity of one of the 

 Alleghanies, may sometimes see several of them be- 

 fore him, that evince no urgent desire to get out of 



