rearing these delicate chicks and fewer have been lost through disease.
Two of the Turkey hens are not good mothers, neglecting the chicks, so
that it has been found necessary to take the eggs from these Turkeys and
hatch them under hens, and when the young Turkeys have grown as large
as their foster-mother, it is amusing to see these large, clumsy fowls rush at
her when she has found a titbit, often buffeting her roughly between them.
If at this age they should ever attempt to get under her wings she would
certainly be lifted off her feet.
The marvelous way which young Quail and Partridges have of disap-
pearing and making themselves indistinguishable among the dead leaves has
often been related, but 1 hardly thought it possible that these larger cousins
of the Grouse could be successful in this ruse. On June 14, of this year, a
MALE WILD TURKEY AT THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK
Turkey mother brought off eight chicks from her nest of leaves near the
center of the range, and they were allowed to remain in the enclosure a day
before being removed to the pheasant -breeding coops away from rats and
other vermin. In catching the young birds no precautions were taken, ex-
cept to drive the hen Turkey and chicks to an opening in the undergrowth
and then separate the mother from her brood. Two of the young birds
were picked up, but ten minutes' search failed to discover a trace of the
remaining si,x. although it was certain that they were within a radius of five
feet. It was necessary to allow the two captured chicks to go, and then
drive the mother to the spot, whereupon, at her low cluck, the entire si.x
appeared as if b magic. She was then driven against a perpendicular ciiflF
of rock and with the help of a third man and about five minutes' search, all
eight birds were secured. This year one of the Turkeys nested a second
Page:Bird-lore Vol 03.djvu/206
This page needs to be proofread.
A Bird of the Season
191