THE TURKEY. 145 



about the forests, and feeding chiefly on mast, they 

 pass the autumn and part of the winter." 



The season of courtship begins about ihe middle of 

 February. The females now separate from the males, 

 whom they endeavor to shun, but by whom they are 

 perseveringly followed. 



At this time, the males begin to gobble strenuously, 

 and strut about, making that peculiar whirling jar 

 with their wings, striking the quill feathers smartly 

 on the ground, which all must have observed in the 

 domestic bird. They utter a succession of puffs from 

 the lungs. They spread out and erect the tail, and 

 draw back the head, while the loose skin of the neck 

 swells and assumes the color of scarlet. Thus they 

 make advances to the females, who roost apart, utter- 

 ing occasional call notes, to which every male within 

 hearing londly responds, several hastening to the spot 

 whence the call proceeds, eager to pay their homage. 

 Thus it happens that the males frequently meet each 

 other, in which case desperate conflicts ensue, ending 

 often in bloodshed, and often in the loss of life, the 

 weaker falling under the blows inflicted on his head 

 by his stronger rival. In the combat, they use beak, 

 wings, and spurs, striking and pulling each other, 

 the feathers being ruffled, the tail partly raised, and 

 the wings held drooping, ready for a blow. ' 



Old females, when addressed by the male, strut 

 about almost as proudly as he does, and more than 

 half way meet his ardent advances ; but females un- 

 der a year old are not to be won so easily. The solici- 

 tations of the male, under these circumstances, are 

 more pressing and* more energetic, till at length he 

 ingratiates himself in her favor. Thus they are mated 

 for the season, though the male, being polygamous, 

 does not confine himself to one female, but solicits the 

 kindness of as many as he chances to meet. The 

 seraglio follow their favorite sultan, roosting at night 

 near him, if not on the same tree. This unitedness 

 lasts, however, only for a short time ; for, as soon as 



