414 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



but the former generally much exceeds the latter in size. The colour 

 of the Wild Turkey is brown, mixed with blue and green, giving out 

 a diaphanous metallic brilliancy. The full-grown male bird some- 

 times measures over three feet, and weighs from twenty to twenty- 

 five pounds. The American naturalist Audubon speaks of having 

 seen one which was upwards of thirty-six.* The female is much 

 smaller, and seldom exceeds ten pounds in weight. Her plumage 

 cannot vie with that of the male in harmonious blending of colour. 

 Although it does not appear constructed for the purpose, the mature 

 bird is capable of taking considerable flights, crossing with ease 

 in its wild state those gigantic rivers that traverse its habitat ; but, 

 as a rule, this bird only takes wing when compelled, for it runs 

 with surprising rapidity, distancing the common cur dog with ease. 

 It accomplishes long journeys on foot; not, however, caused by 

 atmospheric influence, but from want of sustenance. It is gene- 

 rally towards the beginning of October that these migrations com- 

 mence. The Turkeys then unite in groups of from ten to a 

 hundred individuals, and seek a new abode ; the males forming 

 a separate party from the females. The necessity of protecting their 

 young from the brutality of the old cock birds, who kill them if 

 opportunity offers, inspires the hens with this habit. It sometimes 

 happens that the emigrating band are stopped by a watercourse, 

 when all evince great agitation by spreading their tails, uttering fre- 

 quent gobbles, and yielding themselves to extravagant demonstrations. 

 At the end of a day or two, after having inspected the neighbourhood, 

 they mount upon the branches of some of the highest trees, and take 

 wing to traverse the obstruction. Some of the young are certain to 

 fall into the water, but they know how to swim. When all have 

 reached the opposite bank, they run hither and thither as if they 

 were mad, and from their recklessness at this time it is very easy to 

 approach and kill them. These birds pair in February or March, 

 according to latitude ; the females produce eggs six weeks afterwards ; 

 at this time the hen secretes herself, as the male would break them. 

 The nest is an indentation in the ground, lined with soft grasses, 

 moss, and dry leaves. When the mother leaves her eggs to seek 

 food, she carefully covers them with reeds or grass, the better to 

 screen them from the sight of the fox, lynx, or crow. The incu- 

 bation lasts about thirty days. As the time for hatching approaches, 

 no power can make the mother leave her nest, no peril will cause 



* Near Philadelphia, Perm., a breed of Domestic Turkeys, are to be found 

 remarkable for their size — some are said to have reached fifty pounds weight —Ed. 



