AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
17 
quently stand a repetition of the reports of a rifle, although 
they would fly from the attack of an owl, or even perhaps 
from his presence. Thus sometimes nearly a whole flock is 
secured by men capable of using these guns in such cir- 
cumstances. They are often destroyed in great numbers 
when most worthless, that is, early in the fall or autumn, 
when many are killed in their attempts to cross the rivers, 
or immediately after they reach the shore. 
“ During spring Turkeys are called , as it is termed, by 
drawing the air, in a particular way, through one of the 
second joint bones of a wing of that bird, which produces 
a sound resembling the voice of the female, on hearing 
which the male comes up, and is shot. In managing this, 
however, no fault must be committed, for Turkeys are 
quick in distinguishing counterfeit sounds, and, when half- 
civilized, are very wary and cunning. I have known 
many to answer to this kind of call, without moving a 
step, and thus entirely defeat the scheme of the hunter, 
who dared not move from his hiding-place, lest a single 
glance of the gobbler’s eye should frustrate all further at- 
tempts to decoy them. Many are shot when at roost, in this 
season, by answering with a rolling gobble to a sound in 
imitation of the cry of the Barred Owl. 
“But the most common method of procuring Wild 
Turkeys, is by means of pens. These are placed in parts 
of the woods where Turkeys have been frequently ob- 
served to roost, and are constructed in the following man- 
ner. Young trees of four or five inches diameter are cut 
down, and divided into pieces of the length of twelve or 
fourteen feet. Two of these are laid on the ground paral- 
lel to each other, at a distance of ten or twelve feet. Two 
other pieces are laid across the ends of these, at right 
angles to them; and in this manner successive layers are 
added, until the fabric is raised to the height of about four 
feet. It is then covered with similar pieces of wood, 
placed three or four inches apart, and loaded with one or 
two heavy logs to render the whole firm. This done, a 
trench about eighteen inches in depth and width is cut 
under one side of the cage, into which it opens slant- 
ingly and rather abruptly. It is continued on its outside 
to some distance, so as gradually to attain the level of the 
surrounding ground. Over the part of this trench within 
the pen, and close to the wall, some sticks are placed so 
as to form a kind of bridge about a foot in breadth. The 
trap being now finished, the owner places a quantity of 
Indian corn in its centre, as well as in the trench, and as 
he walks off drops here and there a few grains in the 
woods, sometimes to the distance of a mile. This is re- 
peated at every visit to the trap, after the Turkeys have 
found it. Sometimes two trenches are cut, in which case 
the trenches enter on opposite sides of the trap, and are 
E 
both strewn with corn. No sooner has a Turkey disco'- 
vered the train of corn, than it communicates the circum- 
stance to the flock by a cluck, when all of them come up, 
and searching for the grains scattered about, at length 
come upon the trench, which they follow, squeezing 
themselves one after another through the passage under 
the bridge. In this manner the whole flock sometimes 
enters, but more commonly six or even only, as they are 
alarmed by the least noise, even the cracking of a tree in 
frosty weather. Those within, having gorged them- 
selves, raise their heads, and try to force their way through 
the top or sides of the pen, passing and repassing on the 
bridge, but never for a moment looking down, or attempt- 
ing to escape through the passage by which they entered. 
Thus they remain until the owner of the trap arriving, 
closes the trench, and secures his captives. 
“ The weight of Turkey-hens generally averages about 
nine pounds avoirdupois. I have, however, shot barren 
hens, in strawberry season, that weighed thirteen pounds, 
and have seen a few so fat as to burst open on falling from 
a tree when shot. Male Turkeys differ more in their bulk 
and weight. From fifteen to eighteen pounds may be a 
fair estimate of their ordinary weight. I saw one offered 
for sale in the Louisville market that weighed thirty-six 
pounds. Its pectoral appendage measured upwards of a 
foot 
For the Cabinet of Natural History. 
A HUNTING EXCURSION ON ONE OF THE 
CORDILLERAS. 
Mr. Editor: — The following extract is from a journal, 
kept during a short residence in Colombia; but at the 
time it was penned, I did not intend it for publication. 
If, however, you find it sufficiently interesting, and suit- 
able for the pages of your work, I shall be happy in 
making the contribution. 
“ I was one of a party of adventurers which sought 
their fortunes in South America, — having set sail from 
Boston in 18 — , and landed at Laguayra after a passage 
of a few weeks. My original design was to rest at Carac- 
cas, an inland city of the province of Venezuela, during 
my residence in Colombia. I therefore remained in the 
former town only a sufficient time to land my goods, and 
prepare them for transportation to the latter city. 
“ The distance between Laguayra and Caraccas is only 
a few miles, but the road is mountainous and difficult, and 
