GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 261 



of the last-mentioned States." It is already extirpated from the thickly-peopled portions of the 

 continent. 



"The Turkey," continues Audubon, "is irregularly migratory, as well as irregularly gregarious. 

 When the supply of food in one portion of the country happens greatly to exceed that of another, 

 the Turkeys are insensibly led towards that spot, by gradually meeting in their haunts with more 

 fruit the nearer they advance towards the place where it is most plentiful. In this manner flock 

 follows after flock, until one district is entirely deserted, while another is, as it were, overflowed by 

 them. 



" About the beginning of October, when scarcely any of the seeds and fruits have yet fallen from 

 the trees, these birds assemble in flocks, and gradually move towards the rich bottom-lands of the 

 Ohio and the Mississippi. The males, or as they are more commonly called, the ' gobblers,' associate in 

 parties of from ten to a hundred, and search for food apart from the females ; while the latter are seen 

 advancing singly, each with its brood of young, then about two-thirds grown, or in connection with 

 other famihes, forming parties amounting to seventy or eighty individuals, all intent on shunning the 

 old cocks, which, even when the young birds have attained this size, will fight with and often destroy 

 them by repeated blows on the head. Old and young, however, aU move in the same course and on 

 foot, unless their progress be interrupted by a river, or the hunter's dog force them to take wing. 

 When they come to a river they betake themselves to the highest eminences, and there often remain a 

 whole day, or sometimes two, as if for the purpose of consultation. During this time the males are 

 heard gobbling, calling, and making much ado, and are seen strutting about as if to raise their courage 

 to a pitch befitting the emergency. Even the females and young assume something of the same pompous 

 demeanour, spread out their tails and run round each other, purring loudly and performing extravagant 

 leaps. At length, when the weather appears settled, and all around is quiet, the whole party mount to 

 the tops of the highest trees, whence, at a signal consisting of a single cluck given by a leader, the 

 flock takes flight for the opposite shore. The old and fat birds easily get over, even should the river 

 be a mile in breadth ; but the young and less robust frequently fall into the water, not to be drowned, 

 however, as might be imagined. They bring their wings close to their body, spread out their tail as a 

 support, stretch forward their neck, and striking 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 bewildered ; in this state they 

 fall an easy prey to the hunter. 



" When the Turkeys arrive in parts where food is abundant, they separate into smaller flocks, 

 composed of birds of all ages and both sexes, promiscuously 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 farmhouses, associate with the Domestic Fowls, 

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

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



" As early as the middle of February the females separate and fly from the males, the latter 

 strenuously pursue, and begin to gobble or to utter their 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 

 first and last 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 Turkey, when an unusual or unexpected noise elicits its singular hubbub. 



