166 HABITS OF THE TURKEY. 



ramble about with the positive knowledge 

 before his eyes that they will injure his 

 neighbours. I am told that on the great 

 plains of Long Island, turkeys are raised in 

 great numbers and with much ease, living 

 on the grasshoppers and other insects which 

 abound there. The only enemy they have 

 to fear is the crow, which frequently makes 

 a feast upon the young. When thus per- 

 mitted to wander, they will steal their nests, 

 as it is termed, but they seldom return to 

 the farmhouse with a large brood. 



A farmer in Westchester county, some 

 years since, procured a young wild hen tur- 

 key in order to make experiments in cross- 

 ing the breed, but, owing to some circum- 

 stance, it did not succeed, and in the ensu- 

 ing spring she disappeared. In the follow- 

 ing autumn she returned, followed by a large 

 brood. These were quite shy, but by a lit- 

 tle management they were secured in a 

 coop, and the mother allowed her liberty. 

 She remained on the farm until the succeed- 

 ing spring, when she again disappeared, and 

 returned in the autumn with another brood. 



