since then there has not been a Turkey killed in any of the ranges mentioned. The year previous to 

 their disappearance from this part of the State, an acquaintance reared fourteen beautiful bronzed birds 

 from the eggs of a Wild Turkey, and when a little over a year old they all died; also many tame Tur- 

 keys died about the same time with "chicken cholera," and I am inclined to believe the disappearance 

 of the Wild Turkey, in Southern Ohio at least, was dependent upon some epidemic disease. 



The Wild Turkey is exceedingly wary, and in disposition contains more of the wild nature than any 

 of the birds of the forest. Even Avhen taken directly from the shell and reared cither by hand or with 

 domestic Turkeys, they will, when grown, separate from friends, protectors, and accustomed comrades, 

 and instinctively seek the more attractive life of the forest. Still instances are recorded, tending to show 

 that these birds may at times exhibit, to a most remarkable extent, the faculty of memory and capacity for 

 attachment to former friends and acquaintances, even after long periods of separation. J. J. Audubon re- 

 lates a case of this kind in a bird he raised, and which, after being fed and fondled for two years, left 

 all for the natural attractions of the forest, and was considered forever lost. But while on a huntino- ex- 

 cursion some five miles from home, he saw a fine gobbler cross the path before him moving leisurely 

 along, and he ordered his dog to put the bird up. The dog went off with great speed, and as the animal 

 approached, the Turkey slackened his pace until both dog and Turkey were seen standing side by side, 

 as if holding an interview. Mr. Audubon says he was greatly surprised at their actions, but still more 

 so when he came up and found a mutual recognition of old friends, and that his favorite pet was willing 

 to submit to his wishes and be taken back to civilization. 



But no care and kindness can in one or two generations overcome the fear of man and love for the 

 wilds, and it requires many years of skilled schooling to extinguish the instincts for roving, and give to the 

 bird that contented and confiding disposition found in the domestic Turkey. I do not think it possible 

 for a bird that has been reared in a state of nature, and felt the charms of the wilderness, to ever be 

 made reconciled to any other condition in life. I once captured a full-grown young female that had been 

 winged several weeks before. The poor bird was almost dead from starvation and injury, yet life seemed 

 so dear that she cried most pitifully when she found resistance useless. The broken end of the wing was 

 amputated,' and the vermin vanquished, and the prisoner placed in a large open pen by the side of the 

 walk to the barn. In the pen was a small box, large enough to afford the timid creature a place of 

 concealment, a roost, and other measures of comfort. Here she was kept more than a year, with 

 every attention to have her become accustomed to a noAV mode of life and presence of friends around 

 her ; yet she would remain concealed during the day, and Avould not even take food or Avater excepting 

 at twilight ; and then only in the absence of every object of fear. From here I sent her into a county 

 having no Wild Turkeys, and placed her in a. garden overgrown with an abundance of bushes of cur- 

 rants, gooseberries, ras^^berries, etc., intersjDersed with strawberry plants, and with her a pair of tame 

 Turkeys. Here she remained over two years without manifesting the least inclination to make the ac- 

 quaintance of her well-raised relatives. A misplaced board on the fence surrounding the place of confine- 

 ment, finally gave her that boon she so much desired. It was the beginning of summer when she ob_ 

 tained her freedom, and was seen no more until the folloAving spring, when she Svas noticed several times 

 near the tame Turkeys, and this always very early in the morning. That she could get there at 

 that hour in the day, or get there at all, from the timber-land, near a mile distant, through farms and 

 fences, as she was unable to fly over an ordinary fence, seemed most remarkable. After harvest, she 

 frequented the stubble-fields for food with four w^ell-grown half-breeds as Avild as herself. The following 

 spring, she began her visits to her old acquaintances again, but unfortunately, on one of her trips, she 

 fell in wuth a man and gun and was brought in as a great prize. Indignation is too mild a term to ex- 

 press the feelings of those who looked upon the lifeless form and reviewed the history of the poor unfor- 

 tunate bird. 



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