WILD TURKEY. 239 
nature, which always studies the good of the species, without 
regard to the individuals. Did not females prefer the most 
perfect of their species, and were not the favours of beauty 
most willingly dispensed to the victorious, feebleness and de- 
generacy would soon mark the animal creation ; but, in con- 
sequence of this general rule, the various races of animals are 
propagated by those individuals who are not only most to be 
admired for external appearance, but most to be valued for 
their intrinsic spirit and energy. 
When the object of his pursuit is discovered, if the female 
be more than one year old, she also struts, and even gobbles, 
evincing much desire ; she turns proudly round the strutting 
male, and suddenly opening her wings, throws herself towards 
him, as if to terminate his procrastination, and, laying herself 
on the earth, receives his dilatory caresses. But should he 
meet a young hen, his strut becomes different, and his move- 
ments are violently rapid ; sometimes rising in air, he takes a 
short circular flight, and on alighting, drags his wings for a 
distance of eight or ten paces, running at full speed, occasion- 
ally approaching the timorous hen, and pressing her, until 
she yields to his solicitations. Thus are they mated for the 
season, though the male does not confine himself exclu- 
sively to one female, nor does he hesitate to bestow his atten- 
tions and endearments on several, whenever an opportunity 
offers. 
One or more females, thus associated, follow their favourite, 
and roost in his immediate neighbourhood, if not on the same 
tree, until they begin to lay, when they change their mode of 
life, in order to save their eggs, which the male uniformly 
breaks, if in his power, that the female may not be withdrawn 
from the gratification of his desires, At this time the females 
shun the males during the greater part of the day; the latter 
become clumsy and careless, meet each other peacefully, and 
so entirely cease to gobble, that the hens are obliged to court 
their advances, calling loudly and almost continually for 
them. The female may then be observed caressing the male, 
