136 PHASIANID^E. 



are scarcely half their proper weight, and altogether unfit 

 for food. 



The proper season for the legitimate sport is late in 

 the autumn, when, after a summer diet of strawberries 

 and wild fruit, they have had a six weeks' or couple of 

 months' run among the acorns and masts. It is then 

 a splendid bird in every respect, and so wild and diffi- 

 cult of approach as to require no inconsiderable amount 

 of skill in stalking, and even then is not often to .be 

 reached without the rifle. A bird with these qualities, 

 excelling, also, in point of size, beauty of plumage, 

 and culinary qualities, may well rank among game-birds 

 of the highest order. 



The difficulty of approaching within range, how- 

 ever cautiously the hunter may conceal himself, has 

 led some to suppose that the Wild-turkey is gifted 

 with an acute sense of smell. In all birds, however, 

 excepting those of prey, this faculty is very imper- 

 fectly developed, and I do not think there is any reason 

 to believe that this individual one is any exception 

 to the rule. A quick ear and keen eye, combined with 

 great watchfulness, alone enable it so easily to detect the 

 presence of danger ; for the old birds are always on the 

 alert even while feeding, and it requires all the caution 

 and address of the practised stalker to steal in upon them. 



The chief difficulty in finding them is the absence 



