TURKEYS. 



Where turkeys are numerous a great many are trapped every 

 year by the native hunters by methods which do not redound to the 

 intelligence of the turkeys. A place is found where they are in the 

 habit of "using," as it is called. Corn is scattered about, and, if 

 that is eaten, more corn is placed there the next day. They are fed 

 in this manner for a week or more, until the turkeys become accus- 

 tomed to going there for food. Then small logs are laid, forming 

 a square box about six or eight inches in height ; possibly two 

 logs on each side, one above the other. In this is placed the corn, 

 and the turkeys enter it readily, as the obstruction is not sufficient to 

 make them fear any harm. The next night another log is added on 

 the four sides, raising the box gradually, perhaps a foot or so each 

 night, until the small logs form a cone-shaped box, narrowing at 

 the top, leaving an opening of perhaps a foot or eighteen inches by 

 which they can enter at the top. Corn is placed in the box and a 

 few kernels leading to it, as usual, and the turkeys, mounting the 

 last log, enter it and eat up the corn. The opening has now become 

 so narrow that, although a turkey can easily jump down through it 

 with closed wings, it is impossible to jump out of it with wings 

 spread. I have tried this method on one or two occasions, but with- 

 out success, although I have no doubt as to the truth of the state- 

 ment, which is vouched for by a number of old residents and 

 hunters. 



Another style of trap is a log pen with a large tunnel under one 

 side. The turkeys follow the corn through the tunnel and do not 

 attempt to go back the same way, but run about the sides of the 

 pen, poking their heads through the openings between the logs. 



Turkeys are still numerous in some parts of Florida, although 

 they have been practically exterminated in many localities where 

 they were once common. They are gregarious and usually prefer 



