50 GALLINACEOUS BIRDS 



There are some turkeys in the great preserve of the 

 Nittany Club in Pennsylvania, and here, if anywhere 

 in the North, I believe by proper care the turkeys 

 might be made to show an increase. Turkeys are 

 great wanderers, but the preserve of this club is miles 

 in extent, and if a lot of new birds could be procured 

 and protected, there no doubt would be in a few years 

 enough turkeys for the club members to kill one now 

 and then when in pursuit of other game possibly over 

 a point. Some tame birds of the bronze variety closely 

 resembling the wild ones might be turned out in the 

 farms preserved by the club, and these would aid in 

 keeping the wild birds on the preserve, and would most 

 likely soon be found associating with them. A wild tur- 

 key is a great prize in any bag. His appearance would 

 cause rejoicing at the club table. I heard of a few flocks 

 in the mountains of Western Pennsylvania a year ago, 

 and had an invitation to go in pursuit of them ; there 

 were ruffed-grouse in the same woods, a few woodcock, 

 and a few coveys of partridges in the valleys. A friend 

 who shot over the ground, assured me there could be 

 no doubt about the turkeys being there, and I am 

 always glad to learn of the existence of these birds any- 

 where. Their extermination seemed certain a few 

 years ago. Unless they be preserved on some of the 

 club grounds, I fear they will vanish as completely as 

 did the buffalo and wild passenger pigeon. In the 

 West the turkeys are pursued with greyhounds, but 

 I have never witnessed this sport. The birds are 

 repeatedly driven into the air, each flight being shorter, 

 until finally the dogs overtake one. 



Turkey shooting is a most uncertain sport. When 



