292 .TURKEYS. 



the Turkey-cock never resenting the indignity. Early in the 

 Spring he left them, as it was supposed, to find himself 

 a mate for the pairing-season. But, in the beginning of 

 Autumn, he rejoined his old friends, and continued .with 

 them, as formerly, until the next pairing-time, when he again 

 disappeared, but returned no more, having probably been 

 killed.* 



Male birds of the gallinaceous or poultry tribe, which 

 associate with a plurality of females, are in general less 

 attached to the young birds of their species than others 

 which pair, and confine themselves to one mate. The fol- 

 lowing is, however, a curious instance that this insensibility 

 is not invariably the case. 



In May, a Turkey-hen was sitting upon eggs, and as the 

 cock in his solitude began to be uneasy and appear dejected, 

 he was allowed to remain in the same space along with her. 

 He immediately, on being admitted, sat down by the hen, 

 and it was at first supposed that this was a mere mark of 

 affection ; but it was soon found that he had taken some of 

 the eggs from under her, which he carefully covered with his 

 own body. The maid who looked after the poultry thought 

 this mode of hatching would be attended with little advantage, 

 and therefore put the eggs back again under the hen ; but 

 the cock was no sooner at liberty than he again carried some 

 of them away as before. The owner, when he observed this, 

 resolved, for the sake of experiment, to let the cock have his 

 own way, arid caused a nest to be prepared with as many eggs 

 as its large body was able to cover. The cock seemed to be 

 highly pleased with this mark of confidence, sat with great 

 patience on the eggs, and was so attentive to the care of 

 hatching them, that he scarcely took time to go in search of 

 food. At the expiration of the usual time, twenty-eight 

 young ones were produced ; and the cock, who was now in 

 some measure the parent of this numerous offspring, appeared 

 a good deal perplexed when he saw so many little animals 

 pecking around him, and requiring his constant vigilance ; 



* Edin. Phil. Jour., No. viii. 



