1.08 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



victims he pursues are but imitations of what nature has given 

 her creatures for specific purposes, it becomes us to inquire and 

 understand the character of these peculiarities and learn why they 

 are bestowed ; and by our investigations to determine the periods 

 when game is in season. For instance, the call of the turkey 

 may be either the warning note of the mother to her collective 

 brood, as in the autumn, or the invitation and response of the 

 wooing as in the spring. At the latter season, all birds are full 

 grown, and the yearlings are in their prime. In October the 

 flocks have not yet scattered ; the young turkeys, though large 

 and strong of wing, are not fully grown, and the family circle re- 

 mains unbroken. In both cases, it is apparent, the birds are noble 

 and legitimate game. A turkey-call is easily imitated by using 

 the hollow of the two hands placed together ; but these devices 

 can only be learned by careful attention and practice. The early 

 morning is the best time of day for calling, as indeed it is for all 

 manner of hunting. 



Besides the ordinary method of capturing the turkey, detailed 

 above, there are others only to be employed where the birds are 

 very abundant. In Texas and the " Nation," as the Indian Ter- 

 ritory is often called, they are shot at night from their roosts in 

 considerable numbers. They are also trapped in the following 

 way. A spot must first be found where the Turkeys are accus- 

 tomed to " use." This will always be found to be an unfrequented 

 place and near some swampy or large forest growth, where they 

 may find high trees to resort to when alarmed by the approach of 

 huntsmen and to roost in at night. Having found such haunts and 

 feeding grounds, the baiter scatters peas, wheat, or corn about 

 in small quantities in different marked places, and occasionally 

 visits are made to the places to see if the bait has been eaten. If 

 so, and by turkeys, it is easily determined by the signs of scratch- 

 ing away of the leaves in all directions in search of more food. If 

 the bait has been eaten, re-bait at once. They will soon begin to 

 resort to such places for food. Having once gotten them to do so, 

 then make a pen of old weather-beaten fence rails, or something 

 of the sort, using nothing to make the pen of new or fresh cut 

 stuff, as they are very cautious and will not venture near it. Hav- 

 ing gotten the rails on the spot, dig a trench eighteen inches deep 



