Ml'JLliAliUlD.K — TIIK TUUKKVrt. 407 



ously innviiij,' iiitct tlm saiiio rci^'ifiiis, Itut only in snuill fdinily ;,'r()U))a, cacli 

 It'iidin}; its own Hock, tlion neiuly grown. Clmdimlly tliiiy miito with otiier 

 I'liniilios, i'orniing at leiigtli imrtios of soventy or eiglity. Tlicy aro .naid to 

 avoid very carot'iiUy the old niahis, who have tliu very impanMital <lis])ositioii 

 to destroy tlio yonng liirds cvini wlicn ni-arly j^rowii. Thcsi! migrations aro 

 niado on loot oxccitl wht-n tiiuy aro conipellod to cross a stri'uni. On thoir 

 first coming to tho banks of a river they are said to make a luiuso there of 

 one or two days before they attempt to cross, the (dd males strutting about 

 u]) and down the lianks, making a loud gobbling, and calling to one another 

 as if to raise their courage to a l)etitting jMiint. Kven the i'cmales and the 

 young assiune something of the same pompous demeanor, sjireading out their 

 tails, running round one amtther, and making a loud purring noise. At longtii, 

 after this prolonged preparation for the ]tassage, they all mount to the top 

 f»f a high tree, anil, at a signal given by their leader, take flight for the 

 opposite shore. Occasionally some i'all into the water, Avheu these bring 

 the wings close to the body, spi'eiul out the tail, and plying their legs 

 with great vigor move rapidly towards the shore, where, by a violent effort, 

 they extricate themselves from the water. After thus crossing a stream of 

 any magnitude, they aro often found in a l)ewildered state, and fall an easy 

 prey to the hunter. 



Where their food occurs abundantly they se]mrato into smaller flocks, com- 

 posed of birds of all ages and sexes. At times they are known to approach 

 farndiouses, associate with the domesticated fowl, and enter the corn-cribs in 

 quc^'o of food, passing the fall and the winter in this manner. 



Early in February the love-season is said to commence, the first demon- 

 strations being made by the males, but for some time persistently avoided 

 by the females. At this period the sexes roost apart. When a female utters 

 a call-note, the male birds within hearing return the cry, uttering notes simi- 

 lar to those M'ith which the domestic Turkey greets any very unusual sound. 

 If the call-note has been uttered by a female on the ground, the males tly to 

 tho place, si)reading and erecting their tails, drawing their heads back on 

 their shoulders, depressing their wings with a quivering motion, and strutting 

 pompously about. At the same time they emit from their lungs a succession 

 of very peculiar pufls. On these occasions the males often encounter each 

 other, and desperate contests ensue, which fre(]uently have a fatal termina- 

 tion, caused by furious blows inflicted on the hefid. When one Cock-Turkey 

 has thus destroyed its rival, it is said to caress the dead body in an appar- 

 ently affectionate manner. 



When the Turkeys have mated, the connection is supposed to last for that 

 season, though a male Turkey is often known to have more than a single mate; 

 and the hens ai'e said also to keep a])art from the males while they are laying 

 their eggs, for the cock would inevitably destroy them. At the end of the 

 love-season the males become emaciated, and cease to gobble. They then 

 separate entirely from the females, and keej) apart by themselves until they 

 recover their strength, when they reunite in small flocks. 



