WILD TURKEY. 8 



ever, as might be imagined. They bring their wings close to their body, 

 spread out their tail as a support, stretch forward their neck, and, strik- 

 ing out their legs with great vigour, proceed rapidly towards the shore ; 

 on approaching which, should they find it too steep for landing, they 

 cease their exertions for a few moments, float down the stream until they 

 come to an accessible part, and by a violent effort generally extricate 

 themselves from the water. It is remarkable, that immediately after 

 thus crossing a large stream, they ramble about for some time, as if be- 

 wildered. In this state, they fall an easy prey to the hunter. 



When the Turkeys arrive in parts where the mast is abundant, they 

 separate into smaller flocks, composed of birds of all ages and both sexes, 

 promiscviously mingled, and devour all before them. This happens 

 about the middle of November. So gentle do they sometimes become 

 after these long journeys, that they have been seen to approach the farm- 

 houses, associate with the domestic fowls, and enter the stables and corn- 

 cribs in quest of food. In this way, roaming about the forests, and feed- 

 ing chiefly on mast, they pass the autumn and part of the winter. 



As early as the middle of February, they begin to experience the im- 

 pulse of propagation. The females separate, and fly from the males. 

 The latter strenuously pursue, and begin to gobble or to utter the 

 notes of exultation. The sexes roost apart, but at no great distance 

 from each other. When a female utters a call-note, all the gobblers 

 within hearing return the sound, rolling note after note with as much 

 rapidity as if they intended to emit the last and the first together, not 

 with spread tail, as when fluttering round the females on the ground, 

 or practising on the branches of the trees on which they have roosted for 

 the night, but much in the manner of the domestic tui-key, when an un- 

 usual or unexpected noise elicits its singular hubbub. If the call of the 

 female comes from the ground, aU the males immediately fly towards the 

 spot, and the moment they reach it, whether the hen be in sight or not, 

 spread out and erect their tail, draw the head back on the shoulders, de- 

 press their wings with a quivering motion, and strut pompously about, 

 emitting at the same time a succession of puff's from the lungs, and stop- 

 ping now and then to listen and look. But whether they spy the female 

 or not, they continue to puff* and strut, moving with as much celerity as 

 their ideas of ceremony seem to admit. While thus occupied, the males 

 often encounter each other, in which case desperate battles take place, 



