The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
5 i6 
lemained for a considerable part of the day, returning to the enclosure as soon as night approached. 
It continued this practice until the following spring, when I saw it several times fly from its roosting- 
place to the top of a high cotton tree on the Ohio, from which, after resting a little, it would sail 
to the opposite shore, the river being nearly half a mile wide, and return towards night. One 
morning I saw it fly off at a very early hour to the woods, in another direction, and took no 
particular notice of the circumstance. Several days elapsed, but the bird did not return. I was 
going towards some lakes near Green River, to shoot, when having walked five miles I saw a fine 
large gobbler cross the path before me, moving leisurely along. Turkeys being then in prime 
condition for the table, I ordered my dog to chase it and put it up. The animal went off with 
great rapidity, and as it approached the turkey, I saw with much surprise that the latter paid little 
attention. Juno was on the point of seizing it, when she suddenly stopped and turned her head 
towards me. I hastened to them, but you may easily conceive my surprise when I saw my own 
favourite bird, and discovered that it had recognised the dog and would not fly from it, although the 
sight of a strange dog would have caused it to run off at once.” 
Audubon describes as follows the ordinary way in which wild turkeys were taken in pens or 
traps: — “Young trees of four or five inches in diameter are cut down and divided into pieces of the 
length of twelve or fourteen feet. Two of these are laid on the ground parallel to each other, at a 
distance of ten or twelve feet. Two others 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 slantingly 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 
repeated at every visit to the trap after the turkeys have found it. No sooner has a turkey 
discovered the train of corn than it communicates the circumstance 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 seven only, as they 
are alarmed by the least noise, even the cracking of a tree in frosty weather. Those within having 
gorged themselves, raise their heads, and try to force theii way through the top or sides of the pen, 
passing and repassing on the bridge, but never for a moment looking down or attempting to 
escape by the passage by which they entered. Thus they remain until the owner of the trap 
arriving closes the trench and secures his captives. I have heard of eighteen turkeys having been 
caught in this manner at a single visit to the trap.” 
The progress of civilisation in the United States is however thinning the wild Turkey fast, and 
at no distant date the breed must become extinct, except so . far as preserved in its descendants. 
Contrary to what is usually the case, domestication in the case of the Turkey has not improved, 
but rather reduced hardiness and even size ; for the wild bird is far larger than any known in 
England, until recent importations from the States of stock containing the wild blood. They have 
been shot weighing nearly sixty pounds , and carrying the head four feet above the ground. The 
head and neck differ from the domestic race in being less red and more of a blue colour ; the legs 
are red or pink ; and the prevailing colour of the plumage is a splendid copper bronze, changing 
