164 THE C6MPLETM POULTRY BOOK. 



search of more, rarely rising unless they have a river to cross, or are flushed by 

 a hunter's dog, or by wolves, foxes, wild cats, etc. When the river to be crossed, 

 is a very wide one, such as the Mississippi, they often spend a day or two upon 

 its banks, as though considering the difficulties of the attempt. J>uxms this 

 time the males strut backwards and forwards, their 'fans' expandeMheir wmgs 

 sweeping the ground, and their throats rolling out gobble after gobble in quick 

 succession, as though trying to inspire the hens and young birds with courage 

 for the undertaking. Finally, when the courage of aU has been woundup to 

 the proper pitch, the whole flock flies up into the tops of the highest trees, where 

 they sit a short time longer, stretching their necks out towards the bank they 

 desire to gain, as though estimating the distance to be crossed, as well as gather- 

 ing breath for the prolonged flight. At last, seemingly at a given signal, aU take 

 wing ; but in their progress across there is always a descent, and few except the 

 strongest ever land much beyond the bank, the younger and feebler often fall- 

 ing into the water— not always to perish, for they can swim a, little— but many 

 irequently gain the bank exhausted and bedraggled, only to fall aprey to wolves 

 or wild oats, which, warned by the two or three days' gobbling on the opposite 

 bank, are on the look-out for ' wrecks ' Very often the backwoods squatteralso 

 profits by the flight, for having heard the noise, he prepares to secure a few to 

 lard down in a barrel for future consumption at his wigwam. Judging, from 

 former flights, where the ■ gang ' will make his side of the stream, he lies con- i 

 coaled, and when the flght does take place he takes advantage of the birds' 

 necessities, and secures 'a right smart chance of 'em.' 



" From October to February the turkeys remain, in larger or smaller companies, 

 together ; when, as before stated, the preparations for breeding commence. 



" The wild turkey, as an object of pursuit, is the shyest and most wary of all 

 game; even where they are plentiful and rarely hunted, the person who pursues 

 them must have some knowledge of the bird and its habits to hope for success. 

 When they are scarce, and have been much hunted, they become inconceivably 

 wild and suspicious, and only the veteran hunter can kiU them; young, half, or 

 three-quarters grown birds are more easily kUled." 



The Mexican wild turkey, M. Gallopavo, as described by Mr. Gould, is consid- 

 erably larger than the variety found farther north, " but it has shorter, legs, a 

 considerably larger and more expanded tail, conspicuously toned with black and 

 brown, and terminated with white ; the tail coverts are very profusely developed, 

 largely tipped with white, and bounded, posteriorly, with a narrow line of bla^, 

 their basal portions being rich metaUio bronze. The same arrangement of color- 

 ing also prevails in the feathers of th&lower part of the flanks, and on the under 

 tail coverts, where it is particularly fine. The centre of the back is black, with 

 green, purplish, and red reflections; the back of the neck, upper part of the 

 back, and shoulders, are in some light bronzy, in others the color of fire ; the 

 greater wing coverts are uniform bronzy brown, forming a conspicuous band 

 across the wing ; qll the primaries are crossed by mottled bars of blackish brown 

 and white, freckled with brown; all the under surface is fiery copper intensely 

 brUliantiu certain lights, and becoming darker towards the flanks." 



The OeeUated, or Honduras turkey, is thus described by Mr. Tegetmeier: 



"Th? Ocellated turkey is a native of Guatemala, the province of Peten ^d Yueit- 



