102 



NORTH AMERICA. 



formerly abundant in Canada, but as their places oi 

 resort become settled and thickly peopled, they re- 

 tire and seek refuge in the remotest recesses of the 

 interior. In New England they appear to have been 

 destroyed many years ago ; but they are still found 

 in the eastern parts of Pennsylvania and New Jer- 

 sey. These birds do not confine themselves to any 

 particular food, but eat corn, berries, grapes, bar- 

 ley, tadpoles, young frogs, and lizards. Their fa- 

 vorite food, however, is the peccan nut and acorn. 

 Where there is an abundant crop of acorns, there 

 numerous flocks of turkeys may be expected. In 

 the autumn they direct their courses in vast num- 

 bers to the rich lands on the borders of the Ohio 

 and Mississippi. The males and females travel 

 separately, but all in the same direction. Before 

 crossing a river, they assemble on the highest em- 

 inences, and remain there as if in consultation 

 for a day or two. At length after due prepara- 

 tion, the leader gives a signal note, and they all 

 wing their way to the opposite shore. Some 

 of the young and weak fall into the water, and 

 are obliged to swim for their lives, using all the 

 means in their power and the most violent exertion 

 liVd Turkey. lo reach the shore. IMany, however, perish in the 



attempt. It is observed that after these journeys, 

 the turkeys are so familiar, that they fearlessly enter the plantations in search of food. Great 

 numbers are killed at this time, and kept in a frozen state to be sent to distant markets. 



They begin to build in April ; the nest is very simple in construction, being only composed 

 of a few dried leaves. The female lays sometimes twenty, but more usually nine or fifteen 

 eggs, which are white, spotted with brou-n. Wild turkeys are very tenacious c^f their feeding 

 grounds, as well as of the trees on which they have once roosted. Flocks have been known 

 to resort to one spot for a succession of years, and to return after a distant emigration in 



search of food. They roost on a point of land jut- 

 ting into a river where there are large trees in great 

 numbers. When they are all quiet for the night, 

 they are very easily shot, and an experienced hunt- 

 er may secure nearly the whole flock, as the tur- 

 keys, fancying themselves secure when at roost, are 

 not alarmed by either the sportsman or his gun. 



The flesh of the wild turkey is of excellent 

 flavor, being more delicate and juicy than that 

 of the domestic turkey ; the Indians value it so 

 highly, that they term it, w'hen roasted, "the 

 wliite man's dish." The male of the wild tur- 

 key is nearly four feet in length ; the female is 

 only three feet and a quarter long. The plumage 

 of the male is very brilliant ; and of a variety of 

 hues. That of the female is not as beautiful. 

 AVhen strutting abroad and displaying himself, this 

 bird has a very stately and handsome appearance, 

 and appears to be quite sensible of the admiration 

 he excites. 



The Quail (Pcrdix Virginiana) . This bird, 

 Quails. which is called quail in New England, and part- 



ridge at the south, difiers from both the partridge 

 and quail of Europe ; it being smaller than the first, and larger than the last. Quails frequent the 

 forest, and are most numerous in the vicinity of well-cultivated plantations, where there is plenty 



