132 THE TURKEY. 



prey, and the lynx (Felis vufa\ who sucks their eggs, 

 and is extremely expert at seizing both parent and 

 young ; he follows them for some distance, in order 

 to ascertain their course, and then, making a rapid 

 circular movement, places himself in ambush before 

 them, and waits until, by a single bound, he can 

 fasten on his victim. 



" The following circumstance is related by Bar- 

 tram : ( Having seen a flock of turkeys at some 

 distance, I approached them with great caution, 

 when, singling out a large cock, and being just on 

 the point of firing, I observed that several young 

 cocks were affrighted, and in their language warned 

 the rest to be on their guard against an enemy, who 

 I plainly perceived was industriously making his 

 subtle approaches towards them, behind the fallen 

 trunk of a tree, about twenty yards from me. This 

 cunning fellow-hunter was a large fat wild cat or 

 lynx ; he saw me, and a* times seemed to watch my 

 motions, as if determined to seize the delicious prey 

 before me ; upon which I changed my object, and 

 levelled my piece at him. At that instant my com- 

 panion, at a distance, also discharged his piece, the 

 *5port of which alarmed the flock of turkeys, and 

 ^fty fellow hunter, the cat, sprang over the log, and 

 dotted off: 



" These birds are guardians of each other ; and the 

 first who sees a hawk or eagle, gives a note of alarm, 

 on which all within hearing lie close to the ground. 

 Aa *kav usually roost in flocks, perched on the naked 



