124 THE TUfcKEY. 



a river, they select the highest eminences, that their 

 flight may be the more certain ; and here they some- 

 times remain for a day or more, as if for the purpose 

 of consultation, or to be duly prepared for so ha- 

 zardous a voyage. During this time the males gob- 

 ble obstreperously, and strut with extraordinary im- 

 portance, as if they would animate their companions, 

 and inspire them with the utmost degree of hardi- 

 hood ; the females and young also assume much of 

 the pompous air of the males, the former spreading 

 their tails, and moving silently around. At length 

 the assembled multitude mount to the tops of the 

 highest trees, whence, at a signal note from a leader, 

 the whole together wing their way towards the opt 

 posite shore. All the old and fat ones cross without 

 difficulty, even when the river exceeds a mile in 

 width ; but the young, meagre, and weak, frequent- 

 ly fall short of the desired landing, and are forced to 

 swim for their lives ; this they do dexterously 

 enough, spreading their tails for a support, closing 

 their wings to the body, stretching the neck for- 

 wards, and striking out quickly and forcibly with 

 their legs. If, in thus endeavouring to regain tho 

 land, they approach an elevated or inaccessible bank, 

 their exertions are remitted, they resign themselves 

 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 



