92 THE BIRDS 
in the trees at night, has done much to decrease their 
numbers. The nest is a slight hollow scratched in the 
ground at the base of a tree or under some sheltering 
bushes, lined with dry leaves and a few feathers from the 
turkey’s breast after incubation commences. The ground 
color is a rich buff, specked and spotted with reddish- 
brown. Size 2.65x2.00. Fresh eggs April 15th, nine to 
fourtecn in number. Some fifteen years ago it was no 
uncommon sight to see an old pair with quarter- or half- 
grown young, dusting themselves in our more than dusty 
country roads, but with changed roads and other condi- 
tions, this is a rare sight nowadays, and becoming more 
so as the years roll by. They raise only one brood a season. 
They are a hardy bird, and during a dry season like that 
of the summer of 1911 and 712, hatch and raise nearly 
their entire setting. It is now becoming quite a practice 
with the farmers all over the country to cross a wild 
turkey gobbler with their domesticated flock, thus infusing 
hardiness into their stock. Many states are also intro- 
ducing them as game birds, later, as their numbers 
increase, to be shot for sport and food. This means of 
propagation will probably save them from possible 
extinction. Their food consists of beechnuts, chinquapins 
and other acorns; wild berries and grapes; insects, grass- 
hoppers, beetles, ete. 
