228 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



he runs into a real one. Again, although this bird may be- 

 accredited with an unusual amount of cunning, some of his 

 actions are so extremely stupid, that it causes astonishment 

 in the mind of a reasoning being how qualities so dissimilar 

 can be found to exist together. 



As an instance, in some portions of the United Statea 

 where settlements are becoming daily more numerous, wild 

 turkeys still exist in considerable numbers, but the sports- 

 man who would go in their pursuit with the hope of 

 obtaining a shot, will find his efforts fruitless and his labour 

 thrown away ; but the settler, more probably one of his 

 young children, will go into the uncleared land, search till 

 he discovers evidence where turkeys frequent, and then 

 commence his plans for their capture. His first proceeding 

 is to make a circle, on the margin of which he scatters a 

 few grains of Indian corn; this being accomplished, he 

 sprinkles from the ring to its centre more grain. Here is 

 erected a small edifice of poles, laying sufficiently close 

 upon each other not to obstruct the light, at the same time 

 to prevent the prey from escaping when inside. Under- 

 neath the foundation of this structure a passage is cut with 

 a gradual incline of sufficient size for the game to force 

 itself into the cage, the incline and interior of trap being 

 abundantly supplied with grain This generally wary bird, 

 in his wanderings through the woods in search of food, 

 discovers the corn laid along the outer circle : feeding along 

 he follows it, till the line is reached which leads to the 

 trap ; this he also pursues, and ultimately squeezes himself 

 inside the cage, whence, as long as anything remains to 

 eat, he never thinks of retiring. At length all is consumed, 



