408 NORTH AlfERICAN BIRDS. 



Tlie female is said to begin to deposit her eggs about the middle of April, 

 selecting for that ])ur])ose a ])lace as much concealed as possible from her 

 many enemies. The nest, always on the ground, consists of a few witli- 

 ered leaves in a hollow scratched out by the side of a fallen log, or the top 

 of a ])rostrate tree, or under a tiiicket, or witliin tlie edge of a cane-brake, 

 but always in a dry jdace. The eggs sometimes amount to twenty in 

 number, thougli tliere are usually from ten lo fifteen. They are described 

 as of a dull cream-color, sprinkled with reddish dots. When the female 

 leaves her nest, she is said to be very careful to cover them with leaves, so 

 that it is always diflicult for any one to find them. Mr. Audubon observed 

 that Turkey-liens not unfretpiently selected small islands in which to deposit 

 tlieir eggs, a])parently on account of tlie great ma.sses of drift-timber which 

 accumulated at their heads, in whidi tliey could seek protection and shelter. 



If a female is approached Avliile sitting on her eggs, she rarely moves un- 

 less she is discovered. ^Mr. Audubon has fre(piently fa])proached within a 

 few paces of a ni^st, the female remaining undisturbed. Tliey seldom aban- 

 don their nest when it lia.s been discovered by man, but forsake it if any of 

 tlie eggs liave been destroyed by any kind of animal. If tlie eggs are taken 

 or destroyed, the female ])repares i'or another nest, but otherwise has only one 

 brood in a season. Audubon also states that he haa known several liens 

 associate together, de]H)sit their eggs in the same nest, and rear their broods 

 together, having once found three hens sitting on forty-two eggs in a finglo 

 nest, f»ne i'emale at least being always present to protect it. When the eggs 

 are near hatching, the female will not leave her eggs under any circumstances 

 and will suffer herself to be made a prisoner rather than abandon them. 

 The mother assists the young birds to extricate themselves from the egg- 

 shell, I'aresses and dries them with her bill, and aids them in their first 

 efforts to totter out of the nest. As the brood follow her, she is very watch- 

 ful against Hawks or other enemies, spreads her wings a little to [irotect 

 thcni, and calls them close to her side, keeping them on dry ground and care- 

 fully guardin;^- them from wet, which is very injurious to them when young. 

 When two weeks old, they begin to be able to follow their mother, nt night 

 to roost in the low limb of some tree, and to leave the woods in the daytime 

 in quest of berries and other food. The young usually fcsd on various kinds 

 of small berries and insects. The full-grown Turkeys prefer the pecan-nuts 

 and wild grapes to any other kind of food. 



They are also said to feed on grass, various kinds of plants, corn, and 

 other grain, see'ls, fruit, and also upon beetles, small lizards, tadpoles, etc. 

 In feeding in the woods, they turn over the dry leaves witli their feet, and 

 seem instinctively to know the presence of suitable food. They not unfre- 

 quently betray their presence in the neighborhood by the bare places they 

 thus leave beliind them in the woods where tiiey have been feeding. 



Alter heavy falls of snow and the formation of a hard crust, the Turkeys 

 ire said to be compelled to remain several days on their roosts without food 

 thus proving their capalility of enduring a continued abstinence. 



