Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-03-08

IHE WILD ICRKEY.-This noble bird
may be considered ~ both migratory
and gregarious: migrations arising main
ly from scarcity OF food or Of greater
sbundsnce elsewhere, to which they
are gradually led by finding the supply
increase a. 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, berries, fruits
and insects; neither are tadpoles, young
frogs and lizards despised. When there
h an sbundant crop Of acorns fiocks of
turkeys may be expected. II often oc-
ours that rivers are to be crossed dur
ing these migrations. When arrived at
the banks, they assemble on the high
est eminences and there remain for
hours, and even days. a. If in consulta-
tion, or. perhaps. to recruit their strength
for the undertaking.
While thus waiting, the males en-
ploy their tune in gobbling and strut
ting about with extended tails and low
cred wings. making. with the latter, a
drumming or booming sound. Even
the females often initiate these move
Iients. At last, mounting the tree and
highest eminenees, at q given signal
from the chosen leader, they wing their
way to the opposite shore. The old
birds easily cross, but should the strea
be wide, the young and feeble frequent
ly mis-. 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 out rapidly
with their long and powerful legs
When the banks are steep. as is fire.
quently the case. many are unable to as
cend, and falling back from their repeated
and unsuccessful attempts, are overpow-
cred by fatigue. and perish in the alter.
The nest is very rude structure, be-
ing straight hollow scraped into the
ground in some dry and sheltered place,
and filed with withered leaves or dry
grass. These are usually found on ris-
ing ground At the edge Of marshes,
slushes or thickets, evidently for the
security the latter give the young. In
one case, | knew OF wild turkey build
ing her nest on the top Of a stub some
eight feet from the ground. the stub be-
ing protected hy thick top Of fallen
tree. The nest contained only six eggs.
These were carefully removed and
placed under a sitting hen, which
hatched them all seven days later. As
the nest Of a wild turkey usually con-
tains from ten to eighteen eggs, am
led to believe that this unusual selec-
tion Of site for nest was due TO the
former ones having been destroyed.
The female alone incubate carefully
cencealins the nest, approaching il IL
ways with great caution and from diff
ferent point, and covering the eggs with
dry leaves when leaving in search Of
food aud bravely defending them against
depredators.
Ii is said that three or four females
viii lay in one nest, one always re-
naming as guard while the others
seek food. This ! am inclined to doubt.
and unless the turkey is far more astu,e
than supposed, there would be some
difficulty in dividing the progeny. par.
ticularly il one or two eggs failed TO
hatch, and would cause no small amount
OF turkey talk to be settled by some
grave old gobbler capable o. acting Sol
omon. Possibly they may pool pro-
geny rs well as eggs. The eggs are of
dull cream color, splotched with red.
The young run as soon as hatched, and
are covered with delicate hairy down.
They are very tehdcr and easily killed
by cold or wet. To guard against the
latter catastrophe, the first night Of the
brood is usually passed in the nest, af-
ter which the hen leads them to dry. cl.
evatcd places, carefully shielding them
at night beneath her outspread wings
until they are two weeks old, when
they roost upon the broad branches Of
trees, still protected by the wing Of the
parent. The female calls her young by
the well-known cluek. They run very
fast and when pursued trus, more to
their legs than their wings for escape.
Rod 9n3 Een.