Turkeys. 473 



band extending across the end. Breast, dark brilliant bronze. Body, 

 black, shaded with bronze, but not so brilliant as that of the breast. 

 Winps: Bows, black, with a brilliant bronze or green lustre; coverts, 

 rich bronze, the feathers terminating in a black band and forming a 

 broad band across the wings when folded, and separated from the 

 primaries by a glossy black ribbon-like mark formed by the ends of 

 the coverts ; primaries, black or dark brown, pencilled across with bars 

 of white or grey, the more evenly the better; secondaries, similar to 

 the primaries, the colours changing to a bronze brown as the middle 

 of the back is approached, but with little admixture of white ; an 

 edging of white or brown on the primaries or secondaries is very 

 objectionable. Tail, dull black, each feather regularly pencilled with 

 narrow bands of brown, ending in a broad black band with a wide 

 edging of dull white or grey, the coverts dull black or dark brown, 

 each feather regularly pencilled with narrow bands of brown, ending 

 in a wide black and bronze band extending across the feather, with a 

 wide edging of white or grey. The more distinct the colours through- 

 out the whole plumage the better. 



Plumaqe of the Bronze Hen. — Similar to that of the cock (but 

 not so brilliant nor so clearly defined), except an edging of white on 

 the featliers of the back, breast, body, and wing-bows, the edging to 

 be narrow in front and gradually widen as it approaches the rear. 



The White. 



Beak, pink or flesh-coloured. Eyes and Head, as in the bronze. 

 Leps and Feet, white or pmk-white. Pluinafje, pure white; the cock's 

 beard, deep black. 



The Black. 



Beak, dark horn or slate-black. Eyes, dark hazel. Head, as in 

 the Bronze. Legs and Feet, dark lead or slate-black. Plumage, 

 lustrous black. 



In all breeds, crooked breast-bone, wry or twisted tail, or any 

 deformity, are considered serious defects. For exhibition very small 

 specimens or birds differing in colour of plumage from the standard 

 should be passed over. 



The Breeding Stock. 



In selecting the breeding stock great care should be taken that 

 they are strong, vigorous, and, above all, healthy; very small or 

 overgrown birds should on no account be bred from, the craze for size 

 does much harm, especially if very heavy males are used. Let the 

 " torn," as the turkey cock is generally called, be a typical specimen, 

 unrelated to the hens, and not too heavy : 25 to 30 lb. for a stock bird 

 in hard condition is quite enough ; he should have good depth of body, 

 with full rounded breast. The breast- bone should be long and 

 perfectly straight, as turkeys are bred principally for the table; this 

 is a most important point in both sexes. The thighs, long, stout, and 

 well apart; shanks, large and strong, and toes well spread and 

 perfectly straight. A turkey cock is better at two to four years old 

 as a breeder than a year old bird ; Bronze turkeys breed very true to 



