8 WILD TURKEY. 



The young Turkeys now advance rapidly in growth, and in the 

 month of August are able to secure themselves from unexpected attacks 

 of Wolves, Foxes, Lynxes, and even Cougars, by rising quickly from the 

 ground, by the help of their powerful legs, and reaching with ease the 

 highest branches of the tallest trees. The young cocks shew the tuft on 

 the breast about this time, and begin to gobble and strut, while the 

 young hens pur and leap, in the manner which I have already de- 

 scribed. 



The old cocks have also assembled by this time, and it is probable 

 that all the Turkeys now leave the extreme north-western districts, to 

 remove to the Wabash, Illinois, Black River, and the neighbourhood of 

 Lake Erie. 



Of the numerous enemies of the Wild Turkey, the most formidable, ex- 

 cepting man, are the Lynx, the Snowy Owl, and the Virginian Owl. The 

 Lynx sucks their eggs, and is extremely expert at seizing both young 

 and old, which he effects in the following manner. When he has dis- 

 covered a flock of Turkeys, he follows them at a distance for some time, 

 until he ascertains the direction in which they are proceeding. He then 

 makes a rapid circular movement, gets in advance of the flock, and lays 

 himself down in ambush, until the birds come up, when he springs upon 

 one of them by a single bound, and secures it. While once sitting in 

 the woods, on the banks of the Wabash, I observed two large Turkey- 

 cocks on a log, by the river, pluming and picking themselves. I watch- 

 ed their movements for a while, when of a sudden one of them flew across 

 the river, while I perceived the other struggling under the grasp of a 

 lynx. When attacked by the two large species of Owl above mention- 

 ed, they often effect their escape in a way which is somewhat remark- 

 able. As Turkeys usually roost in flocks, on naked branches of trees, 

 they are easily discovered by their enemies, the owls, which, on silent 

 wing, approach and hover around them, for the purpose of reconnoitring. 

 This, however, is rarely done withovit being discovered, and a single 

 clucJc from one of the Turkeys announces to the whole party the approach 

 of the murderer. They instantly start upon their legs, and watch the 

 motions of the Owl, which, selecting one as its victim, comes down upon 

 it like an arrow, and would inevitably secure the Turkey, did not the 

 latter at that moment lower its head, stoop, and spread its tail in an in- 

 verted manner over its back, by which action the aggressor is met by a 

 smooth inclined plane, along which it glances without hurting the Tur- 



