112 
THE WILD TURKEY. 
their behaviour. They leave off bringing 
food ; and, at length, push the young ones over- 
board into the water beneath. But it is their 
natural element, and they swim about at their 
ease, and begin to dive after their food. 
The old birds may well be in a hurry to 
get rid of them, as they have another brood to 
rear before they leave the swamp, and seek a 
warmer dwelling for the winter. 
CHAPTER XII. 
THE WILD TURKEY. 
In England the cottager is roused from his 
slumbers by the cheerful crowing of the cock; 
for the cock has always been a herald of the 
dawn, and sets up his shrill alarum before the 
sun is up, and while the grass is yet dripping 
with the dew. He is an earlier riser than 
the sun ; and scarcely waits until the night has 
taken her departure, before he crows exultingly 
in the thought of the coming day. 
The wild turkey is the herald of the dawn, 
in his native woods. Just as the sun gilds 
