THE WILD TURKEY. 139 



migratory and gregarious, their migrations having reference only to the abundance of food, and their 

 meeting together in the same localities being, to a large degree, caused by the same source of 

 attraction the supply of mast in certain regions. In this way they desert sections where the 

 supply is exhausted, and advance towards those where it is more plentiful. Late in October these 

 birds assemble in flocks in the rich bottom lands of the Western rivers, the male birds associating in 

 parties of from ten to a hundred, and keeping apart from the females. The latter are simultaneously 

 moving into the same regions, but only in small family groups, each leading its own flock, then nearly 

 grown. These migrations are made on foot, except when they are compelled to cross a stream. On 

 their first coming to the banks of a river they are said to make a pause there of one or two days 

 before they attempt to cross, the old males strutting about up and down the banks, making a loud 

 gobbling, and calling one another, as if to raise their courage to a befitting point. Even the females 

 and the young assume something of the same pompous demeanour, spreading out their tails, 

 running round one another, and making a loud purring noise. At length, after this prolonged 

 preparation for their passage, they all mount to the top of a high tree, and at a signal given by their 

 leader, take flight for the opposite shore. Occasionally some fall in the water, when they bring the 

 wings close to the body, spread out the tail, and plying the legs with great vigour move rapidly 

 towards the shore, where, by a violent effort, they extricate themselves from the water. After thus 

 crossing a stream of any magnitude they are often found in a bewildered state, and fall an easy prey 

 to the hunter. Where their food occurs abundantly they separate into smaller flocks, composed of 

 birds of all ages and sexes. At times they are known to approach farm-houses, associate with the 

 domesticated fowl, and enter the corn-cribs in quest of food, passing the fall and the winter in 

 this manner. 



Early in February the love-season is said to commence, the first demonstrations being made by 

 the males, but for some time persistently avoided by the females ; at this period the sexes roost apart. 

 When a female utters a call-note the male birds within hearing return the cry, uttering notes similar 

 to those with which the domestic Turkey greets any very unusual sound. If the call-note has been 

 littered by a female on the ground, the males fly to the place, spreading and erecting their tails, draw- 

 ing their heads back on their shoulders, depressing their wings with a quivering motion, and strutting 

 pompously about. At the same time they emit from the lungs a succession of very peculiar puffs. On 

 these occasions the males often encounter each other, and desperate contests ensue, which frequently 

 have a fatal termination, caused by furious blows inflicted on the head. When one cock Turkey has 

 thus destroyed its rival, it is said to caress the dead body in an apparent!}" affectionate manner. 



When the Turkeys have mated, the alliance is supposed to last for the season, though a male 

 Turkey is often known to have more than a single mate ; and the hens are said also to keep apart 

 from the males while they are laying their eggs, for the cock would inevitably destroy them. At the 

 end of the love-season the males become emaciated, and cease to gobble. They then separate entirely 

 from the females, and keep apart by themselves until they recover, when they re-unite in small flocks. 

 The female begins to deposit her eggs about the middle of April, selecting for that purpose a place 

 as much concealed as possible from her many enemies. The nest, always on the ground, consists 

 of a few withered leaves in a hollow scratched out by the side of a fallen log, or the top of 

 a prostrate tree, or under a thicket, or within the edge of a cane-brake, but always in a dry 

 place. The eggs are from ten to fifteen in number, but are sometimes as many as twenty. On 

 quitting the nest the hen bird covers them with leaves. When the young are hatched the old 

 mother shows great solicitude, guarding them carefully from wet, which is injurious to the 

 chicks. 



The food of the Turkey in a wild state is stated by the author above quoted to consist of grass, 

 various kinds of plants, corn and other grain, seeds, fruit, and also beetles, small lizards, tad- 

 poles, tkc., with a preference for pecan-nuts and wild grapes to any other kind of food. The young 

 usually feed on small berries and insects. 



In confinement the Turkey has kept wonderfully close to the colour of the parent stock, but 

 some domestic races are known. In the British Museum is a light-brown race with a large top-knot 

 like a Polish fowl. This same race was figured in a work on birds one hundred and twenty 

 years ago. 



