Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-09
Wild Turey Traits.

This noble bird may be considered as both
migratory and gregaIjous, migrations arising
mainly from scarcity of food or of greater
abundance than elsewhere, to which they are
gradually led by finding the supply rncreas-
ing as they advance, rather than from any
particular instinct of their own. In the Fall
they direct their course to the rich bottom
lands of the Ohio and Mississippi. Their
food consists OF grains, grasses, acorns, ber-
ries, fruit and insects neither are tadpoles,
young frogs and lizards despised. When
there is an abundant crop of acorns tlocks Of
turkeys may be expected. 1t often occurs
that rivers are to be crossed during these mi
grations. When arrived at the banks they
assemble on the highest eminences and there
remain for hours, and even days, as if in con-
sultation, OF, perhaps to recruit their strength
for the undertaking. While thus waiting,
the males employ their time in gobbling and
strutting about with expanded tails and low
cred wings, making with the latter a drum
ming or booming sound. Even the females
often initiate these movements. At last,
mounting the trees and highest eIninences,
at given signal from the chOzen leader, they
wing their way to the opposite shore. The
old birds easily cross, but should the stream
be wide, the young and feeble frequently miss
the goal desired, and fall into the stream,
when they swim ashore They swim with
no little dexterity by closing their wings and
expanding their tails for support, striking of
rapidly with their long and powerful legs.
When the banks are steep, as is frequently
the case, many are unable TO ascend, and
! falling back from the repeated and unsuccess-
iul attempts, are oyerpowered by fatigue and
| perish in the water.
Toward the latter part Of February or ear
| ly in March, the love season commences, and
the females separate and endeayor to hide
| from the males, while the latter, with al
most unintermitted gobbling, seek them in
| all directions. At early morn the notes Of
the male may be heard as he stands upon his
perch, butas the sun rises he drops to the
| ground, and begins to strut with his tail
spread and elevated, wings dropping, fcath-
ers ruifled, head and neck drawn back mean
ime emitting a putting sound, evidently in
| hope Of his lordly presence being recognized
| by some watchiul female. At such times,
when males meet fierce battle ensues, end
ing only in the death or flight of the weaker.
| Audubon says that the act Of the victor in
treading upon his dead opponent stimulates,
not hatred, but rather the motions employed
| in carressing the females. This | cannot
verify, neither can dispute, having witness
ed but one such battle, and then the victor
returned again and again to crafty his rage
Upon the fallen foe, seemingly suspccting
that the death OF his opponent was icigned.
The turkey is polygamous, one male often
| leading a flock Of twenty hens until they
commence to lay, when the females separate
and seek to hide themselves from the males,
who are only too apt to destroy the eggs IN
order to prolong their amours.
The nest is very rude structure. being a
straight hollow scraped in the ground in
some dry and sheltered place, and filled with
withered leaves OF dry grass. These are usu-
ally found on rising ground Mt the edge Of
marshes, slashes or thickcts, evidently Tor
the security the latter give the young. In
one case know ola wild turkey building
her nest in the top ola stub some eight feet
from the ground, the stub being protected
| by thick top of fallen tree. The nest con-
tanned only six eggs. These were carefully
removed and placed under a sitting hen who
Matched them all seven days later. As the
nest of wild turkey usually contains from
ten to eigeteen eggs, ! am led to believe
that this unusual selection ola nest was due
to former ones having been destroyed.
When the hens are done laying the males
conceal themselves until they have recovered
their condition The females alone incubate,
carefully eoncealing the nest, approaching it
always with great caution and from differ
ent point, and covering the eggs with dry
leaves when leaving in search OF food, and
bravely defending them against depredators.
1t is said that three or four females will lay
| in one nest, one always remaining as guard