46 
THE WILD TURKEY. 
gobble, their breast-sponge becoming flat. They then separate from the 
hens, and one might suppose that they had entirely deserted their neighbour- 
hood. At such seasons I have found them lying by the side of a log, in 
some retired pai$ of the dense woods and cane thickets, and often permitting 
one to approach within a few feet. They are then unable to fly, but run 
swiftly, and to a great distance. A slow turkey-hound has led me miles 
before I could flush the same bird. Chases of this kind I did not undertake 
for the purpose of killing the bird, it being then unfit for eating, and covered 
with ticks, but with the view of rendering myself acquainted with its habits. 
They thus retire to recover flesh and strength, by purging with particular 
species of grass, and using less exercise. As soon as their condition is 
improved, the cocks come together again, and recommence their rambles. 
Let us now return to the females. 
About the middle of April, when the season is dry, the hens begin to look 
out for a place in which to deposit their eggs. This place requires to be as 
much as possible concealed from the eye of the Crow, as that bird often 
watches the Turkey when going to her nest, and, waiting in the neighbour- 
hood until she has left it, removes and eats the eggs. The nest, which 
consists of a few withered leaves, is placed on the ground, in a hollow 
scooped out, by the side of a log, or in the fallen top of a dry leafy tree, 
under a thicket of sumach or briars, or a few feet within the edge of a cane- 
brake, but always in a dry place. The eggs, which are of a dull cream 
colour, sprinkled with red dots, sometimes amount to twenty, although the 
more usual number is from ten to fifteen. When depositing her eggs, the 
female always approaches the nest with extreme caution, scarcely ever tak- 
ing the same course twice ; and when about to leave them, covers them care- 
fully with leaves, so that it is very difficult for a person who may have 
seen the bird to discover the nest. Indeed, few Turkeys’ nests are found, 
unless the female has been suddenly started from them, or a cunning Lynx, 
Fox, or Crow has sucked the eggs and left their shells scattered about. 
Turkey-hens not unfrequently prefer islands for depositing their eggs and 
rearing their young, probably because such places are less frequented by 
hunters, and because the great masses of drifted timber which usually 
accumulate at their heads, may protect and save them in cases of great 
emergency. When I have found these birds in such situations, and with 
young, I have always observed that a single discharge of a gun made them 
run immediately to the pile of drifted wood, and conceal themselves in it. 
I have often walked over these masses, which are frequently from ten to 
twenty feet in height, in search of the game which I knew to be concealed 
in them. 
When an enemy passes within sight of a female, while laying or sitting, 
