472 Journal of the Dbpartment of Agriculture. 



TURKEYS. 



By T. B. Cross, Poultry Instructor, School of Agriculture, 



Cedara, Natal, 



Turkeys have beeu domesticated for a great number of years, but 

 still may be found in their wild state in Northern America. Other 

 denizens of the poultry-yard have greatly increased in size and weight, 

 but not so the turkey. Wild males have been shot weighing as much 

 as 60 lb., whereas the greatest weight obtained in the domesticated 

 bird is about 46 lb. This is purposely mentioned, as in our experience 

 we find that turkeys always thrive best if kept under the most natural 

 conditions. Undoubtedly the most popular breed in South Africa is 

 the American bron..e, and this is not difficult to understand, as they 

 are the largest, very hardy, and well adapted to this climate. White 

 Austrian, or White Holland and Black Turkeys are not bred in large 

 numbers, and from a commercial aspect do not compare favourably 

 with the Bronze, though of late the White has improved considerably 

 in size. 



American Bronze. 



The general characteristics of this breed are as follows : Head, 

 long and broad and carunculated (i.e. covered with fleshy 

 protuberances). Beak, strong, curved, well set in the head. Eyes, 

 full. Throat tvattle, large and pendent. Neck, long, curving back- 

 ward toward the tail, the top and most of the front carunculated. 

 Body, long, deep through the centre, and well rounded. Breast, broad 

 and full ; the cock's beard long, bristling, and prominent. Back, 

 somewhat curving, rising from the neck to the centre and descending 

 in a graceful curve to the tail. Wings, large and powerful, carried 

 well up and closely to the sides. Tail, long and drooping, the end 

 almost touching the ground. Legs, long, stout and 

 strong. T'oes, straight and strong. Carriage, stately and upright. 

 Plumage, hard and glossy. In the Poultry Club standard (English) 

 the following weights are given for adult birds; Bronze cock, 36 lb. ; 

 hen. 20 lb. Black cock, 27 lb. ; hen, 18 lb. White cock, 26 lb. ; hen, 

 16 lb. 



Colour of the ATuerican Bronze. 



Beak, light horn at tlie tip and dark at the base. Eyes, dark hazel 

 or brown. Head (including face, jaws, throat wattle, and caruncles), 

 brilliant red, changeable to blue-white. Legs and Feet, black, 

 approaching brown in young birds and of a pink or flesh-hue in adults. 

 Plunmge of Cock: Neck, light, brilliant bronze. Beard, black. Back, 

 light brilliant bronze, each feather terminating in a narrow black 



