WILD TTJEKET. 



439 



themselves at the least appearance of danger ; but if perched ujjon 

 a tree they are less guarded, and consequently can be more easily 

 approached by the sportsman. On a misty, moonlight night 

 American hunters take their posts under trees where Turkeys com- 

 monly perch. In this situation the game will receive several 



Fig. 177.— Wild Turkey. 



discharges without making the slightest attempt to escape, although 

 numbers of them in succession may have been killed. 'It is diffi- 

 cult to exp)lain this apparent apath}^, especially w^hen we know their 

 hurrj' to fly before the Owl. It is doubtless owing to the want of 

 sagacitjr which they manifest under these circumstances, as well as 

 to their ludicrous asjDect and eccentric attitudes, that Turke3fs have 



