Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1856-12-04


a dead leafy tree. under thicket Of su-
mach or briers. or by the side Of log: il
is of very simple structure 1.-The turkey
has small CossTRucrIvEsEss boing CON-
posed Of few dried leaves. In this re-
ceptacle the eggs are deposited. some
times to the number OF twenty. but more
usually from nine to fifteen; they are
whitish; spotted with reddish brown. like
those of the domestic turkey, The fe-
male always approaches her nest with
great caution, varying her course so ss
rarely to reach it twice by The same route;
aud on leaving her charge, she is very
careful 10 cover the whole with dry
leaves, with which she concesls it so
carefully, as 10 make it extremely diff
cult. even for one who has watched her
move ments, to indicate the exact spot.
| ICAUTiousNE ss and SEcRETIvESEss large
When laying or sitting. the turkey hen
is not easily driven from her post BY the
approach OF apparent danger; but if an
enemy appears. she crouches as low as
possible. and suffers il to pass. They
seldom abandon their nests on account
of being discovered by man. but should
snake or any other wild animal, suck one
Of her eggs. the parent leaves them alto
gether. II the eggs be removed. she a.
gain seeks the male. and recommences
laying. though otherwise she lays but
one nest of eggs during the season.-
Several turkey hens sometimes associ-
ate. perhaps for mutual safety. and de-
post their eggs In the same nest, and
rear their broods together. Mr.. Audu-
bon once found three females sitting on
forty-,wo eggs. In such cases the mes,
is constantly guarded by one of the par
tiles. so that no COW, raven, or polecat
dare approach it,. The mother will not
forsake her eggs when near Matching,
while life remains; she will suffer an
Enclosure to be made around and impris-
on her. rather than abandon her charge.
Large PHiLoPRosESITIvESEss
The wild turkey is much esteemed as
an article of food. being: superior in IA
vor TO the tame. On this account it is
much hunted. They are very shy. and
difficult 10 approach under ordinary cir
cumstances, in the daytime. and when on
the ground; but a knowledge Of their
habits places them almost wholly within
the power Of the skillful hunter, who.
according to Audubon. when they are oil
quietly perched for the night. takes a
stand previously chosen by daylight, and
when the rising moon enables him to take
sure aim, shoots them down at leisure;
and by carefully singing out those on
the lower branches first. he may in this
way secure nearly the whole flock
Neither lhs presence Of the hunter, while
making his Slaughter, nor the report OF
his gun. seem to Tighten the turkeys in
the least. although the appearance OF q
single owl or other bird of prey would
be sufficient 10 alarm the whole flock
This fancied security or heedlessness oil
danger while at roost. is said to be char
acteristic Of all the gaIlinaceous birds oil
North America. Another mode Of ia
king them is in pens, more common and
more destructive. even, than shooting
them. These are made oflegs. close and
large enough to contain almost any num-
Der. They are baited by grain OF various
kinds though mostly Indian corn, and
en.iced through an opening left for the
purpose. the grain or feed being literally
spread on the floor within. and for some
distance outside. One or two leaders
will. in this way, sometimes lead in and
secure great many. say hundred or
more.
The wild turkey is Of a glossy dark
color; he is generally called black. He
10 ark h ~. h. ,c
Of ferruginous or iron color. with small
shining coppery brown spots, especially
on the wings and tail. In the wild state,
a white or ever a speckled turkey is un-
known, and We venture TO say that a
plain black one has hardly ever occurred.
THE ligh,-colored or gray tame turkeys
are said to be scrofulous and sickly, while
the bird. Good judges avoid the bleached
or light-colored for breeding. and only
keep" the darkest and best.
\ Our object has been to give brief
sketch of the natural history Of the wild
turkey. and not to write an article on d.
ct; but we nav remark in closing. that
while we deem wild turkeys and o,he I
wild game much less Objectionable as
food than the unhealthy and unua;urally
fstted domestic animals. whose flesh COW
ers the tables of our people, and converts
their stomachs into living sepulchers.
still we believe that in advocating far.
inaceous and fruit diet. we promote the
true civilization and elevation of the race.
Will it not be far better 20 devote less
Attention In furkevs and MOS and mora
to :urnips and potatoes. as we'll as to
apples. pears. peaches, grapes. and plumsl
So saws Life ILLUSTRATED.