225 



CHAPTER XV. 



WILD TURKEY. 



Two species represent this family, viz. the common wild 

 turkey, so well known in nearly all of the states composing 

 the Union, and the ocellated, common to Honduras and 

 portions of Central America. 



Although this race are not migratory, still they are great 

 wanderers ; thus a locality where they have been abundant 

 one month, may be entirely deserted by them the next. It 

 is found in the province of Ontario in Canada, which I am 

 led to believe is the most northern range of its habitat ; 

 here it was at one time tolerably abundant, but the culti- 

 vation of the wild lands, and constant persecution by the 

 settlers, have very much reduced their numbers. Penn- 

 sylvania and Ohio at one time swarmed with them, but 

 there, as in Canada, they have suffered much diminution ; 

 however, in the adjoining states of Indiana, Illinois, Michi- 

 gan, and Wisconsin, they can be found in sufficient 

 numbers to remunerate the sportsman for the time and 

 labour passed in their pursuit. All the southern states 



15 



