WILD TURKEY. 
19 
under the extended wings of their protecting parent. At 
®ngth they resort during the day to more open tracts or 
prairies, in quest of berries of various kinds, as well as grass- 
nppers and other insects. The old birds are very partial to 
pecan nuts, winter grapes, and other kinds of fruits. They also 
ent uds, herbs, grain, and large insects ; but their most gen- 
ra and important fare is acorns, after which they make exten- 
sive migrations. By the month of August the young are nearly 
^pendent of their parent, and become enabled to attain a 
roost in the higher branches of the trees. The young 
oc s now show the tuft of hair upon the breast and begin to 
u and gobble, and the young hens already purr and leap, 
to crafty enemies which the Wild Turkey has 
encounter is the lynx, or wild-cat, who frequently seizes his 
^‘^^vancing round and waiting its approach in ambush. 
® rnost other Gallinaceous birds, these Turkeys are fond 
^ Wallowing on the ground and dusting themselves. When 
^pproached by moonlight, they are readily shot from their 
of °ue after another, without any apprehension 
at though they would dodge or fly instantly 
thei ^ Owl. The Gobblers, during the season of 
thei'^ excitement, have been known even to strut over 
companions while on the ground, instead of seek- 
wg *eir own safety by flight. 
of th *^^0 maie Turkeys are called by a whistle made 
duces^ joint-bone of the wing of the bird, which pro- 
and ^ ^ somewhat similar to the voice of the female ; 
I'hey ^ up to this call they are consequently shot, 
made commonly caught in quadrangular pens 
Covered orossing each other, from which is cut a slanting 
Corn ^ sufficient to allow the entrance of the Turkey, 
us Well* ^ u train to this cage for some distance 
uig wo W neighboring birds in the surround- 
oluckin° * discovered the grain, call on each other by a 
the Pep’ entering one at a time, they become secured in 
their vi ' purpose of escape, they constantly direct 
which “P’^urds instead of stooping to go out by the path 
mey had entered. 
