AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



17 



quently stand a repetition of the reports of a rifle, although 

 they would fly from the attack of an owl, or even perhaps 

 from his presence. Thus sometimes nearly a whole flock is 

 secured by men capable of using these guns in such cir- 

 cumstances. They are often destroyed in great numbers 

 when most worthless, that is, early in the fall or autumn, 

 when many are killed in their attempts to cross the rivers, 

 or immediately after they reach the shore. 



" During spring Turkeys are called, as it is termed, by 

 drawing the air, in a particular way, through one of the 

 second joint bones of a wing of that bird, which produces 

 a sound resembling the voice of the female, on hearing 

 which the male comes up, and is shot. In managing this, 

 however, no fault must be committed, for Turkeys are 

 quick in distinguishing counterfeit sounds, and, when half- 

 civilized, are very wary and cunning. I have known 

 many to answer to this kind of call, without moving a 

 step, and thus entirely defeat the scheme of the hunter, 

 who dared not move from his hiding-place, lest a single 

 glance of the gobbler's eye should frustrate all further at- 

 tempts to decoy them. Many are shot when at roost, in this 

 season, by answering with a rolling gobble to a sound in 

 imitation of the cry of the Barred Owl. 



"But the most common method of procuring Wild 

 Turkeys, is by means of pens. These are placed in parts 

 of the woods where Turkeys have been frequently ob- 

 served to roost, and are constructed in the following man- 

 ner. Young trees of four or five inches diameter are cut 

 down, and divided into pieces of the length of twelve or 

 fourteen feet. Two of these are laid on the ground paral- 

 lel to each other, at a distance of ten or twelve feet. Two 

 other pieces are laid across the ends of these, at right 

 angles to them; and in this manner successive layers are 

 added, until the fabric is raised to the height of about four 

 feet. It is then covered with similar pieces of wood, 

 placed three or four inches apart, and loaded with one or 

 two heavy logs to render the whole firm. This done, a 

 trench about eighteen inches in depth and width is cut 

 under one side of the cage, into which it opens slant- 

 ingly and rather abruptly. It is continued on its outside 

 to some distance, so as gradually to attain the level of the 

 surrounding ground. Over the part of this trench within 

 the pen, and close to the wall, some sticks are placed so 

 as to form a kind of bridge about a foot in breadth. The 

 trap being now finished, the owner places a quantity of 

 Indian corn in its centre, as well as in the trench, and as 

 he walks off drops here and there a few grains in the 

 woods, sometimes to the distance of a mile. This is re- 

 peated at every visit to the trap, after the Turkeys have 

 found it. Sometimes two trenches are cut, in which case 

 the trenches enter on opposite sides of the trap, and are 



E 



both strewn with corn. No sooner has a Turkey disco- 

 vered the train of corn, than it communicates the circum- 

 stance to the flock by a cluck, when all of them come up, 

 and searching for the grains scattered about, at length 

 come upon the trench, which they follow, squeezing 

 themselves one after another through the passage under 

 the bridge. In this manner the whole flock sometimes 

 enters, but more commonly six or even only, as they are 

 alarmed by the least noise, even the cracking of a tree in 

 frosty weather. Those within, having gorged them- 

 selves, raise their heads, and try to force their way through 

 the top or sides of the pen, passing and repassing on the 

 bridge, bat never for a moment looking down, or attempt- 

 ing to escape through the passage by which they entered. 

 Thus they remain until the owner of the trap arriving, 

 closes the trench, and secures his captives. 



" The weight of Turkey-hens generally averages about 

 nine pounds avoirdupois. I have, however, shot barren 

 hens, in strawberry season, that weighed thirteen pounds, 

 and have seen a few so fat as to burst open on falling from 

 a tree when shot. Male Turkeys differ more in their bulk 

 and weight. From fifteen to eighteen pounds may be a 

 fair estimate of their ordinary weight. I saw one offered 

 for sale in the Louisville market that weighed thirty-six 

 pounds. Its pectoral appendage measured upwards of a 

 foot. 



For the Cabinet of Natural History. 



A HUNTING EXCURSION ON ONE OF THE 

 CORDILLERAS. 



Mr. Editor: — The following extract is from a journal, 

 kept during a short residence in Colombia; but at the 

 time it was penned, I did not intend it for publication. 

 If, however, you find it sufficiently interesting, and suit- 

 able for the pages of your work, I shall be happy in 

 making the contribution. 



" I was one of a party of adventurers which sought 

 their fortunes in South America, — having set sail from 

 Boston in 18 — , and landed at Laguayra after a passage 

 of a few weeks. My original design was to rest at Carac- 

 cas, an inland city of the province of Venezuela, during 

 my residence in Colombia. I therefore remained in the 

 former town only a sufficient time to land my goods, and 

 prepare them for transportation to the latter city. 



"The distance between Laguayra and Caraccas is only 

 a few miles, but the road is mountainous and difficult, and 



