. The naturalist's library : containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects . the bill short and thick, baseeovered with anaked skin; head and upper part ofthe neck invested with a naked, tuher-culated skin; a loose caruucle on the upper part of the hill; throat with a longitudinalpendulous, and carunculated wattle; tarsi of the ma with an obtuse and weak spurJvings short; tail of eighteen leathers spreading inu» o ;ircle. AVES—WILD TURKEY. 595 settled parts of the Union, but are not numerous in Florida, Georgia, or They are
. The naturalist's library : containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects . the bill short and thick, baseeovered with anaked skin; head and upper part ofthe neck invested with a naked, tuher-culated skin; a loose caruucle on the upper part of the hill; throat with a longitudinalpendulous, and carunculated wattle; tarsi of the ma with an obtuse and weak spurJvings short; tail of eighteen leathers spreading inu» o ;ircle. AVES—WILD TURKEY. 595 settled parts of the Union, but are not numerous in Florida, Georgia, or They are very rare in the northern and eastern parts of theUnited States. They were formerly abundant in Canada, but as their placesof resort become settled and thickly peopled, they retire and seek refuge inthe remotest recesses of the interior. In New England it appears to havebeen destroyed many years ago, but they are still found in the eastern partsof Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These birds do not confine themselves to any particular food, but eat corn,berries, grapes, barley, tadpoles, young frogs, and lizards. Their favorite. food, however, is the pecan nut, and acorn. Where there is an abundantcrop of acorns, there numerous flocks of turkeys may be expected. In thefall, they direct their courses in vast numbers to the rich lands on the bor-ders of the Ohio and Mississippi. The males and females travel separately,but all in the same direction. Before crossing a river, they assemble an thehighest eminences, and remain there as if in consultation for a day or length, after due preparation, the leader gives a signal note, and they allwing their way to the opposite shore. Some of the young and weak fallinto the water, and are obliged to swim for their lives, using all the meansm their power, and the most violent exertion, to reach the shore. Many. 596 AVES —WILD TURKEY however, perish in tlie attempt. It is observed that, after these journeys, iheturkeys are so familiar
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Keywords: ., bookauthordwightjonathan185, bookcentury1800, booksubjectzoology
