LEARNING TURKEY LANGUAGE 175 



to seventy -five yards from his perch. He stands 

 perfectly still some moments until satisfied all is 

 well, then he carefully places the tip of one wing 

 on the other across his back once or twice, and 

 w^alks slowly away to feed. A few mornings 

 later, if the air be crisp, clear, and not too cold, 

 he will gobble lustily many times before he flies 

 down, for the first warm days of spring begin to 

 arouse his animal instincts and he longs for the 

 society of his mates. 



He is now in the prime of turkeyhood, in his 

 finest feather and flesh. He is fat and plump, 

 hence this is the stage at which the hunter, most 

 of all, prefers to bag him; but he is no easy game 

 to secure just now. 



If he ever were afraid of his own voice, step, or 

 shadow, it is at this time; but the forest is ringing 

 with a din of bird song, and it is impossible to 

 restrain his impulse to " gil-obble-obble-obble" 

 Making one or two quick steps, he raises his 

 head and says "put-put" then stands per- 

 fectly still, his great hazel eyes scanning every 

 leaf or bird that moves. 



Why does he gobble? It is the call of nature 



