PARTRIDGES. 645 



monly weighs about 9 pounds ; and the usual price for a 

 Turkey from the Indians is 25 cents ! The domestic 

 bird, when irritated by the sight of any remarkable object, 

 struts out with expanded tail, and drooping his stiffened 

 wincrs, swells out his wattles which become red and tur- 

 gid, and, advancing with a grave and haughty air, utters 

 a humming sound, now and then accompanied by a harsh 

 and dissonant ruk^ orook, orook, repeating it at every whis- 

 tle or unusual sound that strikes his ear. The exhibi- 

 tion of a red rag is also sure to excite his wrath, and 

 induce him to rush with stupid temerity at the disa- 

 greeable object, which he exerts himself to injure or des- 

 troy. A whole flock sometimes will unite in chasing a 

 common cock from the poultry yard, in consequence 

 merely of some whimsical antipathy. From these singu- 

 lar dislikes, this cowardice and folly, the Turkey bears in 

 France the same proverbial imputation of stupidity, which 

 in Encrland is bestowed on the Goose. The feathers of the 

 wild bird attached to strips of bass, were anciently employ- 

 ed by the aborigines, for tippets and cloaks, and were so 

 arrancred that the brilliant surface formed the outside of 

 the dress ; and in later times, similar dresses have also 

 been made by the Cherokees. 



The Turkey was first sent from Mexico to Spain in the 

 16th century, and in the reign of Henry the Eighth, in 

 the year 1524, it was introduced into England, and soon 

 after into France and other portions of Europe. 



The male Turkey is about 4 feet 1 inch in length ; the alar extent 

 5 feet 8 inches. (The female 3 feet 1 inch in length.) Legs and 

 feet purplish red. Iris hazel. Upper part of the back and wings 

 yellowish-brown, of a metallic lustre, changing to deep purple, the 

 retuse tips of the feathers broadly edged with velvet black. Quills 

 dusky, banded with greyish- white. Lower part of the back and tail- 

 coverts deep chesnut, banded with green and black. Tail feathers, 

 of the same color undulatingly barred and minutely sprinkled with 

 black, and with a broad subterminal blackish band. Beneath duller. 



