ASSOCIATION OF SEXES 131 



fallen foe, should he get him down, as that is 

 truly a freak with them ; but I have not seen such 

 a performance with wild birds, although I have 

 noticed the domestic gobbler act similarly toward 

 the body of a dead wild gobbler that I had placed 

 before him on the ground. I have very often 

 brought such a bird into the presence of a tame 

 one, when, at the very sight of the dead bird 

 on my back, the tame one would begin to droop 

 his wings, purr, bow his neck, and bristle for a 

 fight, and at once pounce upon the dead bird, 

 even pounding me until I laid it down and allowed 

 him to vent his rage by pounding it. After this 

 he would begin to strut and gobble, and the red of 

 his head becoming intense he would go through 

 the caressing motions. More often though, under 

 the circumstances, the tame bird would, at the 

 sight of the dead wild gobbler, retire a little way 

 and strut in a furious manner for an hour or two. 

 This does not apply to one instance or individual, 

 but many times in many places. I must differ 

 with Audubon as to the results of these conflicts 

 ever being fatal. I have seen many encounters 

 as he describes, but have never in all my life seen 



