HUNTING WILD TURKEYS. 238 



ing gobble to a sound in imitation of the cry of the 

 Barred Owl. 



But the most common method of procuring wild tur- 

 keys is by means of pens. These are placed in parts of 

 the woods where turkeys have been frequently observed 

 to roost, and are constructed in the following manner. 

 Young trees of four or five inches diameter are cut down, 

 and divided into pieces of the length of twelve or four- 

 teen feet. Two of these are laid on the ground parallel 

 to each other, at a distance of ten or twelve feet. Two 

 other pieces are laid across the ends of these, at right 

 angles to them, and in this manner, successive layers 

 are added, until the fabric is raised to the height of 

 about four feet. It is then covered with similar pieces 

 of wood, placed three or four inches apart, and loaded 

 with one or two heavy logs to render the whole firm. 

 This done, a trench about eighteen inches in depth and 

 width, is cut under one side of the cage, into which it 

 opens slantingly and rather abruptly. It is continued 

 on its outside to some distance, so as gradually to attain 

 the level of the surrounding ground. Over the part of 

 this trench within the pen, and close to the wall, some 

 sticks are placed so as to form a kind of bridge about a 

 foot in breadth. The trap being now finished, the 

 owner places a quantity of Indian corn, in its centre, as 

 well as in the trench, and as he walks off, drops here 

 and there a few grains in the woods, sometimes to the 

 distance of a mile. This is repeated at every visit to 

 the trap, after the turkeys have found it. Sometimes 

 two trenches are cut, in which case the trenches enter on 

 opposite sides of the trap, and are both strewn with 



