110 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



The wild turkey was formerly found in Canada, and in 

 several districts of the United States, but has been gradually 

 driven backwards, as population increased. It is now chiefly to 

 be found in the wilder regions of Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, and 

 Indiana. The wild turkey is, to a certain extent, migratory 

 in its habits ; and about the latter end of autumn, large flocks 

 assemble, and gradually desert their barren wilds for the richer 

 plains of Ohio and Mississippi. The cocks associate in parties 

 by themselves, and seek for food apart from the hens. The 

 latter remain with the poults, which they take care to keep 

 away from the cocks, which are very apt to attack and destroy 

 them. 



Early in March the hens separate again from the herd, 

 roost apart, and carefully shun the cock. They still, however, 

 remain near the latter ; and when a hen utters her call, every 

 cock within hearing responds with his ' gobble,' ' gobble,' 

 ' gobble.' This noisy wooing usually continues for about an 

 hour, before sunrise, after which the birds silently alight 

 from their perches, and the cocks strut about with expanded 

 tails, seeking to obtain the favor of their desired mates. They 

 sometimes, while thus employed, encounter each other, in 

 which case desperate conflicts take place, terminated only by 

 the death or flight of the vanquished. 



After pairing, the birds remain together for the season, 

 until laying begins, when the hen is again compelled to seclude 

 herself, as the cock would otherwise destroy the eggs. About 

 the middle of April, the hen forms her nest, of a few dry 

 leaves, on the ground, in some sheltered spot, where it will be 

 concealed from every hostile eye ; here she deposits her eggs, 

 to the number of from ten to twenty. They resemble, in size 

 and color, those of the domestic bird. Whenever she leaves 

 the nest, she covers it up with leaves, so as to secure it from 

 observation. She is a very close sitter, and will, also, wlien 



