MODES OF CAPTUEING. 229 



when the eaptive raises his head for an examination of his 

 prison ; after a time he endeavours to force his way through 

 between the poles, but this is impossible, for they are firmly 

 pinned together; restraint now makes the prisoner reckless, 

 headlong he dashes against the bars, till exhausted, 

 frightened, and with disordered plumage, he resigns him- 

 self to his fate, never for an instant thinking of lowering 

 his head to seek for the spot that afforded him admission. 

 As many as a dozen wild turkeys have been caught by this 

 means at one time. Curiosity is another of their besetting 

 failings, and a knowledge of this weakness in their character 

 is often employed to bring the noble bird within gun-shot. 

 While residing in Southern Illinois, I had a favourite 

 kitten, which, unless I shut it up, would invariably follow 

 me into the woods when shooting. On one occasion, with 

 this strange shooting companion at my heels, 1 came across 

 deer tracks so fresh and regular that I felt convinced their 

 producers were not far off; what to do with pussy first 

 occurred to me, and, as I neither wished to lose my pet or 

 have her company, a thought struck me, why not tie her 

 up with a long piece of string I had in my game-bag ? 

 Very few of us have not tied up a dog, and found he had 

 slipped his collar on their return ; a little experience and 

 care will obviate this as far as the canine race go, but to tie 

 up a cat is quite another kettle of fish. At length, how- 

 ever, I succeeded by not only placing a collar round her 

 neck, but also around her shoulders at the back of her 

 fore-legs, which, connected by an inch of cord, retained 

 each in its place without puss having the power to slip 

 them. To this connecting link I attached six feet of string, 



