V 
HABITS OF THE TURKEY. 475 
hastily rise into the air to seek the shelter of the branches, the lynx leaps upwards and strikes 
them down with his ready paw, just as a cat knocks down sparrows on the wing. Various 
other animals and birds persecute the inoffensive Turkey throughout its existence, but its 
worst enemy is the featherless biped. Snares of wonderful construction, traps, and “pens,” 
are constantly employed for the capture of this valuable bird; the “pen” being so simple 
and withal so ingenious, that it merits a short description. 
A little square hut is made of logs, without window or door. A trench is cut in the 
ground, some ten or twelve feet in length, passing under the wall of the hut and terminating- 
in its centre. A kind of bridge of flattened logs or sticks is then laid across the trench in the 
interior of the hut, close to the wall. The roof is then laid, and the pen is complete. Its 
mode of action is as follows : A quantity of corn is strewn in the pen and along the trench, 
and is sparingly scattered at intervals so as to lead the Turkeys to the trench. When they 
see the corn they follow it up, feeding as they go, and finding that the trench is so well sup- 
plied, they traverse its length and pass into the pen. There is no trap-door to prevent them 
from escaping, neither is there need of it. As is the custom of trapped birds in general, they 
walk round the walls of their prison, trying to find a hole at which to escape, and peering 
anxiously through the interstices between the logs. When they come to the trench, they 
never think of going out by the way that they entered, but keeping close against the wall, 
they walk over the little bridge and recommence their tour. In this way great numbers of 
Turkeys are taken annually. 
The Turkey is a very migratory bird, passing over great distances, and retaining the habit 
in its tamed state, giving no small amount of trouble to the poultry owner. In describing one 
of these migrations, Audubon speaks as follows 
“About the beginning of October, when scarcely any of the seeds and fruits have fallen 
from the trees, these birds assemble in flocks, and gradually move towards the rich bottom- 
lands of the Ohio and Mississippi. The males, or, as they are more commonly called, the 
gobblers , associate in parties from ten to a hundred, and search for food apart from the females, 
while the latter are seen either advancing singly, each with its brood of young, then about 
two-thirds grown, or in union with other families, forming parties often amounting to seventy 
or eighty individuals, all intent on shunning the old cocks, who, when the young birds have 
attained this size, will fight with and often destroy them by repeated blows on the head. 
Old and young, however, all move in the same course, and on foot, unless their progress be 
intercepted by a river, or the hunter’ s dog force them to take wing. 
“When they come upon a river, they betake themselves to the highest eminences, and 
there often remain a whole day, and sometimes two, as if for the purpose of consultation. 
During this time the males are heard gobbling, calling, and making much ado, and are seen 
strutting about as if to raise their courage to the pitch befitting the emergency. Even the 
females and young assume something of the same pompous demeanor, spread out their tails, 
and run round each other, purring loudly and performing extravagant leaps. 
“At length, when the weather appears settled, and all around is quiet, the whole party 
mount to the tops of the highest trees, whence, at a signal, consisting of a single duck given 
by a leader, the flock takes flight for the opposite shore. The old and fat birds get easily 
over, even should the river be a mile in breadth, but the younger and less robust frequently 
fall into the water, not to be drowned, however, as might be imagined ; they bring their wings 
close to their body, spread out their tail as a support, and striking out their legs with great 
vigor, proceed rapidly towards the shore ; on approaching which, should they find it too steep 
for landing, they cease their exertions for a few moments, float down the stream until they 
come to an accessible part, and by a violent effort generally extricate themselves from the 
water. It is remarkable that immediately after crossing a large stream, they ramble about for 
some time as if bewildered. In this state they fall an easy prey to the hunter.” 
The coloring of the wild male Turkey is briefly as follows : The small head and half of the 
neck are covered with a warty, naked, bluish skin, hanging in wattles from the base of the bill 
