DESCRIPTIVE LIST 



155 



Late in 1910 H. H. Brimley, while in a large eastern swamp hunting for bear 

 sign, suddenly rounded the enormous perpendicular mass of roots and earth thrown 

 up by a huge storm-felled tree, when a quick "cluck, cluck" attracted his attention 

 to three big gobblers which were on the point of leaping into the air. As they 

 soared skyward through the tall gums the rifle spoke and a few feathers drifted 

 slowly ground ward, though no bird followed. These three gobblers were not more 

 than a dozen yards distant when flushed, and a shotgun should have accounted for 

 at least two of them. 



FIG. 117. WILD TURKEY. 



On another occasion three of us were hurrying to our deer-stands, each leading 

 a hound by a chain. While passing through a belt of heavy woods, with low, scat- 

 tering undergrowth, the leading man suddenly dropped the chain and threw up 

 his rifle. Following the line of his aim we saw a flock of Turkeys rise all around 

 us. Several shots were fired, but nothing fell, for a rifle is not the best of weapons 

 for snap-shooting at flying game in thick woods. 



We have, on a few other occasions, come suddenly on Turkeys in the woods, but 

 such instances are exceptions, as the neophyte in Turkey hunting will soon discover. 



From eight to twelve eggs is the full complement. Many hunters claim that a 



