20. AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
roads, and places where logs have been burned are favor- 
ite dusting-grounds, and are such objects of interest that 
flocks will travel a long distance for the purpose of revel- 
ling in dirt baths. Their presence may be readily noted 
in the forest by the manner in which the leaves are turned 
over and the earth scratched about, but as they work 
quite a large tract of country in a short time, a person 
may have to walk several miles before he meets them, 
especially if foxes and raccoons are any way abundant. 
The powts change their coat of dirty-gray to one of 
blackish-bronze about the middle of October, and from 
that time forth they are considered fit to be shot and to 
furnish legitimate sport. All their faculties seem to be 
fully developed then, and being fleet of foot and strong 
of wing, and in the highest possible condition for the 
table, they are deemed worthy the attention of the most 
gifted sportsman and the daintiest epicure. 
When food becomes scarce in a region, the turkeys 
form into flocks, numbering from ten to a hundred, and 
commence a migratory tour in search of it. The adult 
males keep by themselves, while the mothers lead their 
broods, either alone or in company with other families, 
for the gobblers are so jealous of the young that they 
would kill them if they got the opportunity; hence the 
necessity of keeping them apart. 
As the flocks move onward they are gradually joined 
by others, until each drove numbers fifty and upwards, 
and these remain together until they are dispersed by 
foes or they voluntarily separate. Should they meet a 
broad river during their migration, all ages and sexes are 
said to make a stay of .one or two days on its bank, pre- 
paratory to crossing. This time is not idly wasted, how- 
ever, as they devote it to strutting, running round one 
another, expanding the tail feathers, gobbling vocifer- 
ously, or making the loud puffing or purring noise for 
which they are famous, 
