240 WILD TURKEY. 
and imitating his peculiar gestures, in order to excite his 
amorousness. 
The cocks, even when on the roost, sometimes strut and 
gobble, but more generally merely elevate the tail, and utter 
the puff; on which the tail and other feathers suddenly sub- 
side. On light or moonshining nights, near the termination 
of the breeding season, they repeat this action, at intervals of 
a few minutes, for several hours together, without rising from 
their perches. 
The sexes then separate; the males, being much emaciated, 
cease entirely to gobble, retire and conceal themselves by 
prostrate trees, in secluded parts of the forest, or in the almost 
impenetrable privacy of a cane-break. Rather than leave 
their hiding-places, they suffer themselves to be approached 
within a short distance, when they seek safety in their speed 
of foot; at this season, however, they are of no value to the 
hunter, being meagre and covered with ticks. By thus re- 
tiring, using very little exercise, and feeding on peculiar 
grasses, they recover their flesh and strength, and when this 
object is attained, again congregate, and recommence their 
rambles. 
About the middle of April, when the weather is dry, the 
female selects a proper place in which to deposit her eggs, 
secure from the encroachment of water, and, as far as possible, 
concealed from the watchful eye of the crow: this crafty bird 
espies the hen going to her nest, and having discovered the 
precious deposit, waits for the absence of the parent, and re- 
moves every one of the eggs from the spot, that he may de- 
vour them at leisure. ‘The nest is placed on the ground, either 
on a dry ridge, in the fallen top of a dead leafy tree, under a 
thicket of sumach or briars, or by the side of a log; it is of a 
very simple structure, being composed of a few dried leaves. 
In this receptacle the eggs are deposited, sometimes to the 
number of twenty, but more usually from nine to fifteen ; they 
are whitish, spotted with reddish brown, like those of the 
domestic bird. Their manner of building, number of eggs, 

