WILD TURKEY. 243 
C4 
dust themselves in shallow cavities of the soil, or on anthills, 
in order to clean off the loose skin of their growing feathers, 
and rid themselves of ticks and other vermin. 
The young turkeys now grow rapidly, and in the month of 
August, when several broods flock together, and are led by 
their mothers to the forest, they are stout, and quite able to 
secure themselves from the unexpected attacks of wolves, foxes, 
lynxes, and even cougars, by rising quickly from the ground, 
aided by their strong legs, and reaching with ease the upper 
limbs of the tallest tree. Amongst the numerous enemies of 
the wild turkey, the most dreaded are the large diurnal and 
nocturnal birds of prey, and the lynx (felis rufa), who sucks 
their eges, and is extremely expert at seizing both parent and 
young ; he follows them for some distance, in order to ascertain 
their course, and then, making a rapid circular movement, 
places himself in ambush before them, and waits until, by a 
single bound, he can fasten on his victim. 
The following circumstance is thus related by Bartram :— 
“Having seen a flock of turkeys at some distance, I approached 
them with great caution, when, singling out a large cock, and 
being just on the point of firing, I observed that several young 
cocks were affrighted, and in their language warned the rest 
to be on their guard against an enemy, whom I plainly per- 
ceived was industriously making his subtle approaches towards 
them behind the fallen trunk of a tree about twenty yards 
from me. This cunning fellow-hunter was a large fat wild 
cat or lynx: he saw me, and at times seemed to watch my 
motions, as if determined to seize the delicious prey before me ; 
upon which I changed my object, and levelled my piece at 
him. At that instant, my companion, at a distance, also dis- 
charged his piece, the report of which alarmed the flock of 
turkeys, and my fellow-hunter, the cat, sprang over the log, 
and trotted off. 
These birds are guardians of each other, and the first who 
sees a hawk or eagle gives a note of alarm, on which all within 
hearing lie close to the ground. As they usually roost in flocks, 
