TURKEYS. 
101 
neighbourhood of the Black Sea*, they have nearly 
returned to their originally wild state ; and near 
Smyrna, such immense flocks of Turkeys approach 
in the depth of winter, that a traveller speaks of 
purchasing four of the largest size for about five 
shillings. 
From the journals of travellers in the interior of 
New Holland, we learn that a species of wild Tur- 
key is, in some places, very abundant ; the bird has 
been described as resembling our Bustard, and is 
remarkably shy. We have heard, from a highly- 
respectable naturalist, of a singular instinct in their 
mode of building their nests and hatching their 
young. It is said, they collect a mass of fallen 
leaves together, forming a considerable pile, in the 
middle of which the eggs are deposited; from the 
particular character of the trees usually found in 
that country, the leaves are full of moisture, conse- 
quently, when collected, they soon heat, and the 
sagacious bird ascertains by some instinctive signs, 
the period when the heat of the mass of leaves has 
continued long enough to hatch the eggs, when the 
old ones pull the heap to pieces, and, releasing the 
broods, lead them off to the woods or plains. 
In their native wilds of North America, they herd 
together in considerable flocks, but, like the original 
inhabitants of the country, the poor Indians, they 
are every year becoming more scarce; driven from 
their accustomed haunts by those who have taken 
possession of their land. Partial as these birds 
are to Indian com and buck-wheat, they are very 
destructive visiters, and the farmers, with reason, 
* See Clarke's Travels, vol. ii» 
