SOCIAL RELATIONS — NESTING 113 



nest itself is a simple affair, fashioned as if made 

 in a hurry, and consists of a depression scratched 

 in the earth to fit her body comfortably, then a few 

 dry leaves are scratched in to line the excavation. 

 Again, the nest may be under an old fallen tree- 

 top or tussock of tall grass, or beside an old log, 

 against which sundry brush, leaves, and grass 

 have drifted, or in an open stubble field or 

 prairie. There is one precaution the hen never 

 neglects, however slovenly the nest is built ; this 

 is to completely cover her eggs with leaves or 

 grass on leaving the nest. This is done to protect 

 them from predaceous beasts and birds, partic- 

 ularly from that ubiquitous thief and villain, 

 the crow. 



The eggs, usually from eight to fifteen in num- 

 ber, are quite pointed at one end, a little smaller 

 than the eggs of the domesticated turkey, show- 

 ing considerable variation in size and shape. In 

 color they are uniform cream, sometimes yellow- 

 ish, and, when quite fresh, with a decided pink 

 cast, spotted and blotched all over with reddish 

 brown and sometimes lilac. 



The period of incubation is four weeks. On 



