WILD TURKEY. 59 



repeated blows on the skull. All parties, however, travel in the 

 same direction, and on foot, unless they are compelled to seek their 

 individual safety by flying, from the hunter's dog, or their march 

 is impeded by a large river. When about to cross a river, they 

 select the highest eminence, that their flight may be the more cer- 

 tain, and here they sometimes remain, for a day or more, as if for 

 the purpose of consultation, or to be duly prepared for so hazard- 

 ous a voyage. It has been observed that after these long journeys 

 the turkeys become so familiar, as to venture on the plantations, 

 and even approach so near the farm-houses, as to enter the stables 

 and corn cribs, in search of food ; in this way they pass the autumn 

 and part of the winter ; during this season great numbers are killed 

 by the inhabitants, who preserve them, in a frozen state, in order 

 to transport them to a distant market. 



Early in March they begin to pair, and for a short time previous, 

 the females separate from, and shun their mates, though the latter 

 pertinaciously follow them, uttering their gobbling notes. During 

 this ceremonious approach the males often encounter each other, 

 and desperate battles ensue, when the conflict is only terminated 

 by the flight, or death, of the vanquished. This pugnacious dispo- 

 sition is not to be regarded as accidental, but as resulting, from a 

 wise and excellent law of nature, which always studies the good of 

 the species, without regard to the individuals. Did not females 

 prefer the most perfect of their species, and were not the favours 

 of beauty, most willingly dispensed to the victorious, feebleness 

 and degeneracy would soon mark the animal creation ; but, in 

 consequence of this general rule, the various races of animals are 

 propagated by those individuals who are notonly most to be admired 

 for external appearance, but most to be valued for their intrinsic 

 spirit and energy. 



About the middle of April when the weather is dry, 



THE FEMALE WILD TURKEY 



Selects a proper place in which to deposit her eggs, secured from 

 the encroachment of water, and, as far as possible, concealed from 

 the watchful eye of the crow. This crafty bird espies the hen 

 going to her nest, and having discovered the precious deposit, waits 

 for the absence of the parent, and removes every one of the eggs, 

 from the spot, that he may devour them at leisure. The nest is 

 placed on the ground, either on a dry ridge, in the fallen top of a 

 dead, leafy tree, under a thicket of sumack or briars, or by the side 

 of a log. It is of a very simple structure, being composed of a few 



