292 
TURKEYS. 
the Turkey-cock never resenting the indignity. Early in the 
Spring lie left them, as it was supposed, to find himself 
a mate for the pairing- season. But, in the beginning of 
Autumn, he rejoined his old friends, and continued with 
them as formerly, until the next pairing-time, when he again 
disappeared, hut returned no more, having probably been 
killed* 
Male birds of the gallinaceous or poultry tribe, which 
associate with a plurality of females, are in general less 
attached to the young birds of their species than others 
which pair, and confine themselves to one mate. The fol- 
lowing is, however, a curious instance that this insensibility 
is not invariably the case. 
In May, a Turkey-hen was sitting upon eggs, and as the 
cock in his solitude began to be uneasy and appear dejected, 
he was allowed to remain in the same space along with her. 
He immediately, on being admitted, sat down by the hen, 
and it was at first supposed that this was a mere mark of 
affection, but it was soon found that he had taken some of 
the eggs from under her, which he carefully covered with his 
own body. The maid who looked after the poultry thought 
this mode of hatching would be attended with little advantage, 
and therefore put the eggs back again under the hen ; but 
the cock was no sooner at liberty than he again carried some 
of them away as before. The owner, when he observed this, 
resolved, for the sake of experiment, to let the cock have his 
own way, and caused a nest to be prepared with as many eggs 
as its large body was able to cover. The cock seemed to be 
highly pleased with this mark of confidence, sat with great 
patience on the eggs, and was so attentive to the care of 
hatching them, that he scarcely took time to go in search of 
food. At the expiration of the usual time, twenty-eight 
young ones were produced ; and the cock, who was now in 
some measure the parent of this numerous offspring, appeared 
a good deal perplexed when he saw so many little animals 
pecking around him, and requiring his constant vigilance ; 
* Edin. Phil. Jour No. viii. 
