172 
MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO. 
at night under the female, and follow her to some low, 
large branch of a tree, where they nestle under the 
broadly curved wings of their vigilant and fostering 
parent. The time then approaches in which they seek 
the open ground or prairie land during the day, in 
search of strawberries, and subsequently of dewberries, 
blackberries, and grasshoppers ; thus securing a plenti- 
ful food, and enjoying the influence of the genial sun. 
They frequently dust themselves in shallow cavities of 
the soil, or on anthills, in order to clean off the loose 
skin of their growing feathers, and rid themselves of 
ticks and other vermin. 
The young turkeys now grow rapidly, and in the 
month of August, when several broods flock together, 
and are led by their mothers to the forest, they are 
stout and quite able to secure themselves from the unex- 
pected attacks of wolves, foxes, lynxes, and even cougars, 
by rising quickly from the ground, aided by their strong 
legs, and reaching with ease the upper limbs of the 
tallest tree. Amongst the numerous enemies of the 
wild turkey, the most dreaded are the large diurnal 
and nocturnal birds of prey, and the lynx ( Felis rufa ,) 
who sucks their eggs, and is extremely expert at seizing 
both parent and young; he follows them for some 
distance, in order to ascertain their course, and then, 
making a rapid circular movement, places himself in 
ambush before them, and waits until, by a single bound, 
he can fasten on his victim. 
The following circumstance is related by Bar tram : 
“ Having seen a flock of turkeys at some distance, I 
approached them with great caution ; when, singling 
out a large cock, and being just on the point of firing, 
I observed that several young cocks were affrighted, 
and in their language warned the rest to be on their 
guard against an enemy, whom I plainly perceived was 
industriously making his subtle approaches towards 
them, behind the fallen trunk of a tree, about twenty 
yards from me. This cunning fellow-hunter was a large 
fat wild cat, or lynx : he saw me, and at times seemed 
to watch my motions, as if determined to seize the 
