300 
LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
me that, however interesting in a scientific view 
the specimens might be, and were, as illustrating the 
geographical distribution of animals, and also as 
exemplifying the influence of climate upon their 
covering, beaver fur from Alabama, even collected 
in winter, is in a pecuniary sense valueless. 
That noble bird, the Turkey, is now in high 
condition, and is abundant in our woods, where 
I frequently hear the gobblers. The pen,” which 
in a former letter I described as a device for 
outwitting them, is now brought into full requisi- 
tion, and many are caught in this manner. Other 
modes are likewise practised, such as the follow- 
ing : — As a flock of turkeys is known to be very 
regular in habit, coming day after day to the 
same spot, at the same hour, the fowler who 
has surprised them feeding has nothing to do 
but to mark the place, and to build up a “ blind,” 
or screen of logs, bushes, and branches of trees. 
To this he resorts before day, and hides himself 
with his dog, whom he has trained to lie as quiet 
as himself. Soon after it is light, the fowls come 
to their familiar spot, when the hunter, waiting 
till he gets several in a line, fires, and does great 
execution. The dog at the same moment dashes 
in the midst of the ilock, which rises on the 
wing, and takes to the nearest tree; here the 
birds sit gazing on the dog, with absorbed atten- 
tion, unobservant of the sportsman, who thus picks 
them down at his leisure. 
On dry frosty mornings, the sportsman goes 
into the woods about nine or ten o^clock, and 
creeps silently to and fro till he hears the well- 
known sound of the birds scratching, — a sound 
recognisable at a great distance. He then glides 
