16 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
tion. The sexes roost apart, but at no great distance from 
each other When a female utters a call-note, all the gob- 
blers within hearing return the sound, rolling note after 
note with as much rapidity as if they intended to emit the 
last and the first together, not with spread tail, as when 
fluttering round the females on the ground, or practising 
on the branches of the trees on which they have roosted 
for the night, but much in the manner of the domestic 
Turkey, when an unusual or unexpected noise elicits its 
singular hubbub. If the call of the female comes from the 
ground, all the males immediately fly towards the spot, 
and the moment they reach it, whether the hen be insight 
or not, spread out and erect their tail, draw the head back 
on the shoulders, depress their wings with a quivering 
motion, and strut pompously about, emitting at the same 
time a succession of puffs from the lungs, and stopping now 
and then to listen and look. But whether they spy the 
female or not, they continue to puff and strut, moving 
with as much celerity as their ideas of ceremony seem to 
admit. While thus occupied, the males often encounter 
each other, in which case desperate battles take place, end- 
ing in bloodshed, and often in the loss of many lives, the 
weaker falling under the repeated blows inflicted upon their 
head by the stronger. 
“ I have often been much diverted, while watching two 
males in fierce conflict, by seeing them move alternately 
backwards and forwards, as either had obtained a better 
hold, their wings drooping, their tails partly raised, their 
body-feathers ruffled, and their heads covered with blood. 
If, as they thus struggle, and gasp for breath, one of them 
should lose his hold, his chance is over, for the other, still 
holding fast, hits him violently with spurs and wings, and 
in a few minutes brings him to the ground. The moment 
he is dead, the conqueror treads him under foot, but, what 
is strange, not with hatred, but with all the motions which 
he employs in caressing the female. 
“ Turkey-cocks when at roost sometimes strut and gob- 
ble, but I have more generally seen them spread out and 
raise their tails, and emit the pulmonic puff, lowering 
their tail and other feathers immediately after. During 
clear nights, or when there is moonshine, they perform 
this action at intervals of a few minutes, for hours to- 
gether, without moving from the same spot, and indeed 
sometimes without rising on their legs, especially towards 
the end of the love-season. The males now become 
greatly emaciated, and cease to gobble, their breast- 
sponge becoming flat. They then separate from the hens, 
and one might suppose that they had entirely deserted 
their neighbourhood. At such seasons I have found them 
lying by the side of a log, in some retired part of the 
dense woods and cane thickets, and often permitting one 
to approach within a few feet. They are then unable 
to fly, but run swiftly, and to a great distance. A slow 
Turkey-hound has led me miles before I could flush the 
same bird. Chases of this kind I did not undertake for 
the purpose of killing the bird, it being then unfit for eat- 
ing, and covered with ticks, but with the view of render- 
ing myself acquainted with its habits. They thus retire 
to recover flesh and strength, by purging with particular 
species of grass, and using less exercise. As soon as their 
condition is improved, the cocks come together again, and 
recommence their rambles. 
“ Turkeys are now generally extremely shy, and the 
moment they observe a man, whether of the red or white 
race, they instinctively move from him. Their usual mode 
of progression is what is termed walking, during which 
they frequently open each wing partially and successively, 
replacing them again by folding them over each other, as 
if their weight were too great. Then, as if to amuse 
themselves, they will run a few steps, open both wings, 
and fan their sides, in the manner of the common fowl, 
and often take two or three leaps in the air and shake 
themselves. Whilst searching for food among the leaves 
or loose soil, they keep their head up, and are unremitting- 
ly on the look-out; but as the legs and feet finish the ope- 
ration, they are immediately seen to pick up the food, the 
presence of which, I suspect, is frequently indicated to 
them, through the sense of touch in their feet, during the 
act of scratching. This habit of scratching and remov- 
ing the dried leaves in the woods, is pernicious to their 
safety, as the spots which they thus clear, being about two 
feet in diameter, are seen at a distance, and, if fresh, show 
that the birds are in the vicinity. During the summer 
months they resort to the paths or roads, as well as the 
ploughed fields, for the purpose of rolling themselves in the 
dust, by which means they clear their bodies of the ticks, 
which at that season infest them, as well as free themselves 
of mosquitoes, which greatly annoy them, by biting their 
heads. 
“ When Turkeys alight on a tree, it is sometimes very 
difficult to see them, which is owing to their standing per- 
fectly motionless. Should you discover one, when it is 
down on its legs upon the branch, you may approach it 
with less care. But if it is standing erect, the greatest 
precaution is necessary, for should it discover you, it in- 
stantly flies off, frequently to such a distance that it would 
be vain to follow. 
“ Turkeys are easily killed if shot in the head, the 
neck, or the upper part of the breast; but if hit in the hind 
parts only, they often fly so far as to be lost to the hunter. 
During winter many of our real hunters shoot them by 
moonlight, on the roosts, where these birds will fre- 
