THE WILD TURKEY. 129 



The above will at once be recognised as Audubon's description 

 of this magnificent bird. 



NATURAL HISTORY AND LOCALITIES WHERE FOUND. 



The wild turkey, the largest of all the fowls that have been 

 reclaimed from the primeval forests of this or any other country 

 and made subservient to the never-ceasing wants of man, stands 

 pre-eminent among the game-birds of America. 



In former times this noble bird wandered in undisturbed peace 

 and quiet, in vast armies, from one end of our remote country to 

 the other, having little or nothing to dread from the savage 

 inhabitants of those wild regions, abounding in game to them of a 

 much more attractive as well as useful character. Then it was, be- 

 fore the pristine forests and luxuriant plains of this vast continent 

 had been invaded by the devastating foot of the white man, that 

 this proud and beautiful fowl roamed in joyous security, unmolested, 

 unharmed, in its native haunts. Then it was that the haughty, 

 vainglorious gobblers, in conscious freedom, decked in the most 

 gorgeous plumage, with outstretched wings, quivering bodies, and 

 blustering heads, pompously strutted and puffed in mimic grandeur, 

 as it were, to win the favor of their amorous but still unyielding 

 mates, or meeting in battle array with sanguinary fury, avenged 

 their jealous desires. Then it was, hidden away in some choice 

 umbrageous copse, that the anxious mother, without fear, without 

 restraint, patiently hatched and reared her tender brood, and 

 brought them forth with careless solicitude, to feed and wander 

 over the fruitful plains. 



How changed is all this ! Scarcely a bird is now to be encoun- 

 tered on the whole northern and eastern Atlantic seaboard. The 

 destroying hand of the white man is stretched forth, and his vic- 

 tims are vainly seeking an asylum far beyond the confines of the 

 "Father of Waters;" and the time is fast approaching, we fear, 

 when we shall hear of the wild turkey as one of the almost extinct 

 species of our land. 



Few or none are to be met with, at this present time, north or 



