THE TURKEY. 95 



ties ensue, when the conflict is only terminated by the 

 flight or death of the vanquished. With the hen whose 

 favor is thus obtained, the male is mated for the season, 

 though he does not hesitate to bestow his attentions on 

 several females whenever an opportunity offers. One or 

 more females, thus associated, follow their favorite, and 

 rest in his immediate neighborhood, if not on the same 

 tree, until they begin to lay, when they shun their mates, 

 in order to save their eggs, which the male uniformly 

 breaks if in his power. At this period, the sexes separate, 

 and the males, being much emaciated, retire and conceal 

 themselves by prostrate trees, in secluded parts of a forest, 

 or in the almost impenetrable privacy of a cane-brake. 

 By thus retiring, using very little exercise, and feeding on 

 peculiar grasses, they recover their flesh and strength, 

 and, when this object is attained, again congregate, and 

 re-commence their rambles. 



About the middle of April, when the weather is dry, 

 the female selects a proper place in which to deposite her 

 eggs, secured from the encroachment of water, and as far 

 as possible concealed from the watchful eye of the crow. 

 The nest is placed on the ground, either on a dry ridge, 

 in the fallen top of a dead leafy tree, under a thicket of 

 sumach or briars, or by the side of a log : it is of a very 

 simple structure, being composed of a few dry leaves. In 

 this receptacle the eggs are deposited, sometimes to the 

 number of twenty, but more usually from nine to fifteen : 

 they are like those of the domestic bird. 



The female uses great caution in the concealment of 

 her nest : she seldom approaches it twice by the same 

 route ; and, on leaving her charge, she is very careful to 

 cover the whole with dried leaves, in such a manner as to 

 make it very difficult even for one who has watched her 

 motions to indicate the exact spot. Nor is she easily 

 driven from her post by the approach of apparent danger ; 

 but if an enemy appears, she crouches as low as possible, 



