

The Wild Turkey 249 



by vigorous protective measures. That such a 

 bird, in the opinion of many the finest game-bird 

 in the world, has been almost exterminated in 

 miles of forested country where it might have 

 been preserved, is a blot upon the sportsmanship 

 of our older states. And the same holds true of 

 the one province of Canada where the turkey 

 once abounded. Thirty years ago one could 

 drive in almost any direction through the woods 

 of western Ontario and reasonably expect to see 

 either the birds themselves or their tracks cross- 

 ing the snowy roads. Twenty years ago the range 

 had narrowed to the big woods of the western 

 tongue of Ontario. Ten years ago the last strong- 

 hold had dwindled to the wildest parts of about 

 three counties. To-day there is perhaps a single 

 narrow strip where one might strike a trail and 

 possibly catch a glimpse of a fleeing survivor of 

 the old-time hosts. And the same sad tale might 

 truly be told of the best grounds of Pennsylvania, 

 Michigan, and Wisconsin ; there are birds in cer- 

 tain parts of all three states, but they are deplor- 

 ably few. I know that some distinguished writers 

 have mourned the loss of the turkey in parts of 

 Pennsylvania, but I also know that the grief, while 

 doubtless sincere, is a bit premature, for, to my 

 personal knowledge, there still are a few turkeys 

 in parts of Pennsylvania where their existence is 

 unsuspected except by local sportsmen. 



