TURKEYS. 437 



state in Europe. They are numerous in Arabia, where they 

 are found in the neighbourhood of marshy places, in little bands 

 composed of a male and several females. Transported into America 

 after the discovery of that continent, the common variety is now 

 perfectly acclimated there, and is even to be found wild in some 

 of the vast forests and savannahs of that country. 



TURKEYS are birds of large size, easily distinguished from 

 other Gallinacean fowls by the following characteristics : Bare 

 heads and necks, decorated with fleshy appendages those of the 

 neck, which fall under the head in front of the bird, are capable 

 of being inflated and much enlarged under the influence of love or 

 anger ; a brush of long and straight hairs hangs at the base of 

 the neck ; the tarsi are strong, and provided with slightly- 

 developed spurs ; lastly, the tail is round, of moderate length, and 

 at the will of the bird can be expanded like a fan. 



The Turkey was originally imported from North America, 

 where it still lives in a wild state; it is frequently met with 

 in the forests which border the large western rivers of that country, 

 such as the Mississippi, Missouri, and the Ohio, and it must be 

 studied there to acquire a correct idea of its habits. The Domestic 

 Turkey is not so handsome in plumage as is the Wild, but the 

 former generally much exceeds the latter in size. The colour of the 

 Wild Turkey is brown, mixed with blue and green, giving out a 

 diaphanous metallic brilliancy. The full-grown male bird some- 

 times measures over three feet, and weighs from twenty to 

 twenty-five pounds. The American naturalist, Audubon, speaks 

 of having seen one which was upwards of thirty-six. The female 

 is much smaller, and seldom exceeds ten pounds in weight : her 

 plumage cannot vie with that of the male in splendour. Although 

 it does not appear constructed for the purpose, the mature bird 

 is capable of taking considerable flights, passing with ease in 

 its wild state across such gigantic rivers as the Ohio, Mississippi, 

 and Missouri, which in every direction traverse and bisect the 

 middle portion of the great North American continent ; but it, as 

 a rule, only takes wing when all other means of locomotion are 

 denied, for it runs with surprising rapidity, distancing the common 

 cur dog with ease, and only abates its speed after a lengthened 

 pursuit. It accomplishes long journeys on foot ; not, however, 



