124 THE WILD TURKEY AND ITS HUNTING 



spends the greater part of his time making war on 

 his own kind, besides murdering his tender off- 

 spring. Certainly there is no bird more affec- 

 tionate to its female under the same condition, 

 or more gallant and proud of her company, and 

 it does not seem likely that he would wilfully 

 destroy in cold blood his own family. 



The old hens that have not succeeded in rais- 

 ing a brood of their own will join hens who have, 

 and assist in rearing the young. Again, Audu- 

 bon says: "When they come upon a river they 

 partake themselves to the highest eminence, and 

 there often remain a day or two as if in consulta- 

 tion. During this time the males are heard gob- 

 bling, calling, and making much ado, and are 

 seen strutting about as if to raise the courage to a 

 pitch before the emergency of crossing." 



I will say in this connection that turkeys may so 

 act in rare instances, if the stream be exception- 

 ally wide, thus delaying their progress for an hour ; 

 for turkeys do not like to fly under any condi- 

 tions, nor will they use their wings save when 

 necessary. But I have never seen a river that 

 they could not easily cross, starting at the 



