THE WILD TURKEY. 
115 
and are apt to fall into the water ; they 
swim for their lives, but the current often 
carries them away from the shore, even when 
they have reached it. They struggle very 
hard, and sometimes succeed in climbing 
the bank, though wind and tide are against 
them. But if they are exhausted with swim- 
ming, their strength fails, and they are 
drowned. 
When the turkeys have crossed the river, 
they wander about for a little time before 
they proceed, as if to recruit. And the 
Indian hunter, who calls this month his turkey 
month, comes upon them, and kills a great 
many of them ; though they are very thin, 
and in poor condition, compared to what they 
will be, . when they have fattened on the 
acorns. 
At last, the turkeys reach the land of plenty ; 
and they disperse in flocks, and feed upon 
the acorns. 
When the spring comes, then comes also 
the process of building the nest, and rearing 
thetyoung ones. This falls entirely to the lot 
of the mother bird, and is rather a difficult 
affair for her to manage. Her partner is of a 
