WILD TURKEY. 237 
march is impeded by a large river. When about to cross a 
river, they select the highest eminences, that their flight may 
be the more certain ; and here they sometimes remain for a 
day or more, as if for the purpose of consultation, or to be duly 
prepared for so hazardous a voyage. During this time the 
males gobble obstreperously, and strut with extraordinary im- 
portance, as if they would animate their companions, and in- 
spire them with the utmost degree of hardihood ; the females 
and young also assume much of the pompous air of the males, 
the former spreading their tails, and moving silently around. 
At length the assembled multitude mount to the tops of the 
highest trees, whence, at a signal note from a leader, the whole 
together wing their way towards the opposite shore. All the 
old and fat ones cross without difficulty, even when the river 
exceeds a mile in width ; but the young, meagre, and weak, 
frequently fall short of the desired landing, and are forced to 
swim for their lives; this they do dexterously enough, spread- 
ing their tails for a support, closing their wings to the body, 
stretching the neck forwards, and striking out quickly and 
forcibly with their legs. If, in thus endeavouring to regain 
the land, they approach an elevated or inaccessible bank, their 
exertions are remitted, they resign themselves to the stream 
for a short time, in order to gain strength, and then, with one 
violent effort, escape from the water. But in this attempt all 
are not successful ; some of the weaker, as they cannot rise 
sufficiently high in air to clear the bank, fall again and again 
into the water, and thus miserably perish. Immediately after 
these birds have succeeded in crossing a river, they for some 
time ramble about without any apparent unanimity of purpose, 
and a great many are destroyed by the hunters, although they 
are then least valuable. 
When the turkeys have arrived in their land of abundance, 
they disperse in small flocks, composed of individuals of all 
sexes and ages intermingled, who devour all the mast as they 
advance; this occurs about the middle of November. It 
has been observed, that, after these long journeys, the turkeys 
