640 
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 
The Wild Turkey, once prevalent throughout the whole 
continent of North America, from Mexico and the Antil- 
les, to the forests of Lower Canada, is now by the progress 
and density of population chiefly confined to the thickly 
wooded and uncultivated tracts of the Western States, be- 
ing particularly abundant in the unsettled parts of Ohio, 
Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and throughout the vast forests 
of the great valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri. On 
the banks of the latter river, however, where the woods 
disappear beyond the confluence of the Platte, the Tur- 
key no longer appears, and the feathers of the wings, for 
the purpose of pluming arrows, form an article of small 
commerce between the other natives and their western 
countrymen. For a thousand miles up the Arkansas and 
Red River, in the wooded alluvial lands, they are not un- 
common. They are likewise met with in small num- 
bers, in Tennessee, Alabama, and West Florida. From 
the Atlantic States generally they are now nearly exter- 
pated. 
The Wild Turkey is neither gregarious nor migratory, 
but from the necessity of wandering after food ; it is oth- 
erwise resident throughout the whole of the vast region it 
inhabits, including the greatest diversity of climate ; and 
it is prolific in proportion to its natural resources, so that 
while in the United States and Canada it only breeds once 
in the year, in Jamaica and the other West India is- 
lands, it is said to raise two or three broods in the same 
period. In quest of mast, they therefore spread them- 
selves through the country, and insensibly assemble in 
considerable numbers to the district where their food 
abounds. These movements are observed to take place 
early in October, (the Turkey moon of the aborigines.) 
The males, or gobblers , as they are often called, from 
their note, are now seen apart from the other sex, in com- 
