THE WILD TURKEY. 49 



on naked branches of trees, they are easily discovered by their enemies, 

 the Owls, which, on silent wing, approach and hover around them, for the 

 purpose of reconnoitring. This, however, is rarely done without being dis- 

 covered, and a single cluck from one of the Turkeys announces to the whole 

 party the approach of the murderer. They instantly start upon their legs, 

 and watch the motions of the Owl, which, selecting one as its victim, comes 

 down upon it like an arrow, and would inevitably secure the Turkey, did 

 not the latter at that moment lower its head, stoop, and spread its tail in an 

 inverted manner over its back, by which action the aggressor is met by a 

 smooth inclined plane, along which it glances without hurting the Turkey; 

 immediately after which the latter drops to the ground, and thus escapes, 

 merely with the loss of a few feathers. 



The Wild Turkeys cannot be said to confine themselves to any particular 

 kind of food, although they seem to prefer the pecan-nut and winter-grape 

 to any other, and, where these fruits abound, are found in the greatest num- 

 bers. They eat grass and herbs of various kinds, corn, berries, and fruit of 

 all descriptions. I have even found beetles, tadpoles, and small lizards in 

 their crops. 



Turkeys are now generally extremely shy, and the moment they observe 

 a man, whether of the red or white race, instinctively move from him. 

 Their usual mode of progression is what is termed walking, during which 

 they frequently open each wing partially and successively, replacing them 

 again by folding them over each other, as if their weight were too great. 

 Then, as if to amuse themselves, they will run a few steps, open both wings 

 and fan their sides, in the manner of the common fowl, and often take two 

 or three leaps in the air and shake themselves. Whilst searching for food 

 among the leaves or loose soil, they keep their head up, and are unremit- 

 tingly on the lookout; but as the legs and feet finish the operation, they are 

 immediately seen to pick up the food, the presence of which, I suspect, is 

 frequently indicated to them through the sense of touch in their feet, during 

 the act of scratching. This habit of scratching and removing the dried 

 leaves in the woods, is pernicious to their safety, as the spots which they 

 thus clear, being about two feet in diameter, are seen at a distance, and, if 

 fresh, shew that the birds are in the vicinity. During the summer months 

 they resort to the paths or roads, as well as the ploughed fields, for the 

 purpose of rolling themselves in the dust, by which means they clear their 

 bodies of the ticks which at that season infest them, as well as free them- 

 selves of the moschettoes, which greatly annoy them, by biting their heads. 



W 7 hen, after a heavy fall of snow, the weather becomes frosty, so as to 

 form a hard crust on the surface, the Turkeys remain on their roosts for 

 three or four days, sometimes much longer, which proves their capability of 



