WILD LIFE IN THE FARM-YARD 61 



forgotten anything that he knew as a wild turkey 

 in the woods, except his fear of man. 



Late in October the wild turkeys of a given 

 neighborhood would get together in flocks of 

 from ten to a hundred and travel on foot through 

 the rich bottom-lands in search of food. In these 

 journeys the males would go ahead, apart from the 

 females, and lead the way. The hens, each con- 

 ducting her family in a more or less separate 

 group, came straggling leisurely along in the rear. 

 As they advanced, they would meet other flocks, 

 thus swelling their numbers. 



After a time they were sure to come to a river 

 a dreadful thing, for, like the river of the old 

 song, it was a river to cross. Up and down the 

 banks would stalk the gobblers, stretching their 

 necks out over the water and making believe to 

 start, as they do when going to roost in the apple- 

 trees. 



All day long, all the next day, all the third day, 

 if the river was wide, they would strut and cluck 

 along the shore, making up their minds. 



The ridiculous creatures have wings; they can 

 fly; but they are afraid! After all these days, 

 however, the whole flock has mounted the tallest 



