208 



WILD TURKEY. 



pected attacks of "Wolves, Foxes, Lynxes, and even Cougars, by rising 

 quickly from the ground, aided by their strong legs, and rea'ching with 

 ease the upper limbs of the tallest tree. Amongst the numerous ene- 

 mies of the Wild Turkey, the most dreaded are the large diurnal and 

 nocturnal birds of prey, and the Lynx [Felis rufa), who sucks their eggs, 

 and is extremely expert at seizing both parent and young : he follows 

 them for some distance, in order to ascertain their course, and then, 

 making a rapid circular movement, places himself in ambush before 

 them, and waits until, by a single bound, he can fasten on his victim. 



The following circumstance is related by Bartram : " Having seen a 

 flock of Turkeys at some distance, I approached them with great cau- 

 tion ; when, singling out a large cock, and being just on the point of 

 firing, I observed that several young cocks were afirighted, and in their 

 language warned the rest to be on their guard against an enemy, who 

 I plainly perceived was industriously making his subtile approaches to- 

 wards them, behind the fallen trunk of a tree, about twenty yards from 

 me. This cunning fellow-hunter was a large fat Wild Cat, or Lynx ; 

 he saw me, and at times seemed to watch my motions, as if determined 

 to seize the delicious prey before me ; upon which I changed my object, 

 and levelled my piece at him. At that instant my companion, at a dis- 

 tance, also discharged his piece, the report of which alarmed the flock 

 of Turkeys, and my fellow-hunter, the Cat, sprang over the log, and 

 trotted off." 



These birds are guardians of each other, and the first who sees a 

 Hawk or Eagle gives a note of alarm, on which all within hearing lie 

 close to the ground. As they usually roost in flocks, perched on the 

 naked branches of trees, they are easily discovered by the large Owls, 

 and, when attacked by these prowling birds, often escape by a somewhat 

 remarkable manoeuvre. The Owl sails around the spot to select his 

 prey ; but, notwithstanding the almost inaudible action of his pinions, 

 the quick ear of one of the slumberers perceives the danger, which is 

 immediately announced to the whole party by a chuck ; thus alarmed, 

 they rise on their legs, and watch the motions of the Owl, who, darting 

 like an arrow, would inevitably secure the individual at which he aimed, 

 did not the latter suddenly drop his head, squat,, and spread his tail 

 over his back ; the Owl then glances over without inflicting any injury, 

 at the very instant that the Turkey suffers himself to fall headlong 

 towards the earth, where he is secure from his dreaded enemy. 



On hearing the slightest noise. Wild Turkeys conceal themselves in 

 the grass, or among shrubs, and thus frequently escape the hunter, or 

 the sharp-sighted birds of prey. The sportsman is unable to find them 

 during the day, unless he has a dog trained for the purpose ; it is neces- 

 sary to shoot them at a very short distance, since, when only wounded, 

 they quickly disappear, and, accelerating their motion by a sort of half 



