126 lewis' amekican spoktsman. 



their condition, when they all reassemble, old and young, 

 males and females, and move ojEf to some more favored feeding- 

 ground. 



FOOD. 



The Wild Turkey is not very particular in the choice of its 

 food ; but little comes amiss. They partake indiscriminately of 

 all the forest fruits, such as nuts and berries; also consume con- 

 siderably of grass, herbs, buds, seeds, &;c., as well as beetles, 

 grasshoppers, tadpoles, worms, and even lizards. When feed- 

 ing on the plains, they feast on strawberries, dewberries, black- 

 berries, and all like productions. 



Audubon states that they are particularly partial to the pecan - 

 nut and winter grape ; they also eat largely of the fruit of the 

 oak and beech, as well as of all kinds of grain, when to be 

 obtained without too much exposure. 



MIGRATIONS. 



The Turkey is principally influenced in its movements after 

 the breeding season, by the abundance or non-abundance of 

 food. They often wander in enormous droves, at certain times, 

 over a wide extent of country in search of mast^ on which they 

 principally feed during the late autumn and winter months. 

 When they encounter a river during these perigrinations, they 

 mount the loftiest trees on the banks, and after a general con- 

 ference, which sometimes, strange to say, lasts a day or two, the 

 whole party, at a given signal from the leaders, take flight and 

 reach the opposite shore without much difficulty. 



Should any, however, from want of confidence or strength, 

 fail in the effort and pitch in the water, they swim with consi- 

 derable dexterity, and soon gain the land. 



THEIR DpMESTICATlON. 



The Wild Turkey is a native solely of the New World ; it 

 is indigenous to the wilds of America, and the origin of the 

 domestic Fowl so generally distributed over the whole civilized 

 globe. 



