SUCCESSFUL HUNTING. 113 



their carriage and modes of living. He was satis- 

 fied with his study and a fine gobbler was killed. 

 He took the three birds to the ranch, where they 

 were prepared for future use. From the contents of 

 the crops of the birds it was seen that the winter 

 food consisted principally of acorns, a pint of which, 

 shells and all, were found in each crop. With these 

 were seeds of various plants, and one had eaten freely 

 of wild grapes, which hung dried on the vines. 



Next morning Dyche went again to Wolf Creek, 

 and leaving Weazel feeding at the mouth of the 

 stream in a grassy spot, he went up the creek on foot. 

 A turkey calling in the distance attracted his atten- 

 tion, and while stalking it he came upon a large flock 

 of over a hundred birds on a sand-bar, where they 

 were sunning themselves. Some were scratching 

 and dusting their feathers, while others walked about 

 and picked up morsels of food. Occasionally an old 

 hen would raise her head and give a loud call. Fully 

 an hour was consumed in working around to a high 

 bank, fifty yards from the flock, and here Dyche lay 

 for some time watching the movements of the birds. 

 Selecting a bunch of five, he sent a load of double- O 

 shot into it. There was a roar as of a cyclone as 

 that magnificent flock rose into the air and sailed 

 away. He sent the load from the other barrel after 

 them, and the double volley brought down four hens, 

 which made a heavy load to carry back to the place 

 where he had left the horse. On the way down the 

 creek a fine gobbler was added to the bag, being shot 

 on the wing as it started to fly. 



Next day the same ground was worked again, and 



