WILD TURKEY. 
83 
after these birds have succeeded in crossing a river, they for some 
time ramble about without any apparent unanimity of purpose, 
and a great many are destroyed by the hunters, although they are 
then least valuable. 
When the Turkeys have arrived in their land of abundance, 
they disperse in small flocks, composed of individuals of all sexes 
and ages intermingled, who devour all the mast as they advance: 
this occurs about the middle of November. It has been observed, 
that, after these long journeys, the Turkeys become so familiar as 
to venture on the plantations, and even approach so near the farm¬ 
houses as to enter the stables and corn-cribs, in search of food: in 
this way they pass the autumn, and part of the winter. During 
this season great numbers are killed by the inhabitants, who pre¬ 
serve them in a frozen state, in order to transport them to a distant 
market. 
Early in March they begin to pair; and, for a short time previous, 
the females separate from, and shun their mates, though the latter 
pertinaciously follow them, uttering their gobbling note. The sexes 
roost apart, but at no great distance, so that when the female utters 
a call, every male within hearing responds, rolling note after note, 
in the most rapid succession; not as when spreading the tail and 
strutting near the hen, but in a voice resembling that of the Tame 
Turkey, when he hears any unusual or frequently repeated noise. 
Where the Turkeys are numerous, the woods from one end to the 
other, sometimes for hundreds of miles, resound with this remark¬ 
able voice of their wooing, uttered responsively from their roosting 
places. This is continued for about an hour; and, on the rising 
of the sun, they silently descend from their perches, and the males 
begin to strut, for the purpose of winning the admiration of their 
mates. 
If the call be given from the ground, the males in the vicinity fly 
towards the individual, and, whether they perceive her or not, erect 
and spread their tails, throw the head backwards, distend the comb 
