How often, as a boy, I have watched them going 

 to roost in the apple-trees and counted the times 

 they have stretched their necks and bobbed, 

 preparatory to an upward move ! I don't re- 

 member the best record for false moves, but so 

 distinct is the impression of the hesitancy and 

 timid bobbing that I never see a live turkey 

 without saying mentally : 



One for the money, two for the show, 



Three to get ready, and four to— get ready again. 



These traits lead the wild birds to very absurd 

 actions in the course of their autumn wan- 

 derings. 



Late in October the turkeys of each neighbor- 

 hood get together in flocks of from ten to a 

 hundred and travel on foot through the rich 

 bottom-lands in search of food. In these jour- 

 neys the males go ahead, apart from the females, 

 and lead the way. The hens, each conducting 

 her family in a more or less separate group, 

 come straggling leisurely along in the rear. As 

 they advance, they meet other flocks, thus swell- 

 ing their numbers. 



After a time they are sure to come to a river 

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