42 The Wild Turkey. 



they direct their courses in vast numbers to the rich lands on 

 the borders of the Ohio and Mississippi. The males and fe- 

 males travel separately, but all in the same direction. Before 

 crossing a river, they assemble on the highest eminences, and 

 remain there as if in consultation for a day or two. At length 

 after due preparation, the leader gives a signal note, and they 

 all wing their way to the opposite shore. Some of the young 

 and weak fall into the water and are obliged to swim for their 

 lives, using all the means in their power and the most violent 

 exertions to reach the shore. Many however perish in the 

 attempt. It is observed that after these journeys, the turkeys 

 are so familiar, that they fearlessly enter the plantations in 

 search of food. Great numbers are killed at this time, and 

 kept in a frozen slate to be sent to distant markets. 



They begin to build in April ; the nest is very simple in 

 construction, being only composed of a few dried leaves. 

 The female lays sometimes twenty, but more usually nine or 

 fifteen eggs, which are white, spotted with brown. Wild 

 turkeys are very tenacious of their feeding grounds, as well 

 as of the trees on which they have once roosted. Flocks 

 have been known to resort to one spot for a succession of 

 years, and to return after a distant emigration in search of 

 food. They roost on a point of land jutting into a river where 

 there are large trees in great numbers. When they are all 

 quiet for the night, they are very easily shot, and an experi- 

 enced hunter may secure nearly the whole flock, as the tur- 

 keys, fancying themselves secure when at roost, are not 

 alarmed by either the sportsman or his gun. 



The flesh of the wild turkey is of excellent flavor, being 

 more delicate and juicy than that of the domestic turkey; 

 the Indians value it so highly, that they term it, when roasted, 

 ' the white man's dish.' 



The male of the wild turkey is nearly four feet in length ; 

 the female is only three feet and a quarter long. The plu- 

 mage of the male is very brilliant, and of a variety of hues ; 

 that of the female is not as beautiful. When strutting abroad 

 and displaying himself, this bird has a very stately and hand- 

 some appearance, and appears to be quite sensible of the 

 admiration he excites. 



A new species, called the ocellated turkey, has'^becn dis- 

 covered in Honduras, which is of a smaller size and of more 

 brilliant plumage than the turkey of the United States. It 

 has small ocellated spots on the tail. — Buffori's A^at. History. 



