THE T0RKEY. 
127 
tails, throw the head backwards, distend the comb 
and wattles, strut pompously, and rustle their wings 
and body-feathers, at the same moment ejecting a 
puff of air from the lungs. Whilst thus occupied, 
they occasionally halt to look out for the female, and 
then resume their strutting and puffing, moving with 
as much rapidity as the nature of their gait will ad- 
mit. During this ceremonious approach, the males 
often encounter each other, and desperate battles 
ensue, when the conflict is only terminated by the 
flight or death of the vanquished.” 
The conqueror now selects the objects of his gal- 
lantry, and one or more females thus associated fol- 
low their favourite, and roost in his immediate neigh- 
bourhood, if not upon the same tree, until they be- 
gin to lay, when they change their mode of life, in 
order to save their eggs, which the male uniformly 
breaks, if in his power. After the love season, the 
sexes again separate, the males cease entirely to 
gobble, and “ retire and conceal themselves by pro- 
strate trees, in secluded parts of the forest, or in the 
almost impenetrable privacy of a cane-brake. Ra- 
ther than leave their hiding-places, they suffer them- 
selves to be approached within a short distance, 
when they seek safety in their speed of foot ; at this 
Beason, however, they are of no value to the hunter, 
being meagre and covered with ticks. By thus re- 
tiring, using very little exercise, and feeding on pe- 
culiar grasses, they recover their flesh and strength, 
