THE TURKEY. 87 



the ordinary fowl-house, and besides, the com- 

 mon poultry have a strong dislike to associate 

 with them. 



The domestic tui'key varies considerably 

 in colouring : we have seen some of pure white, 

 some of a delicate fawn colour, others of a 

 coppery tint, and others of a bronzed black. 

 The dark-coloured birds are considered the 

 most hardy, and are usually of a larger size 

 than the paler varieties, and are, therefore, 

 generally the most prized. The female lays 

 early in the spring: the number of eggs is 

 indeterminable, but she will cover no more 

 than twelve or fifteen : they are of a whitish 

 colour spotted with brown. The period of 

 incubation lasts for thirty days. During the 

 time the hen is sitting, she requires constant 

 attention : she should not only be secluded 

 from the male, but taken occasionally off the 

 nest to feed, and regularly supplied with fresh 

 water, otherwise she will continue to sit 

 without leaving for food, or refreshment, till 

 completely exhausted. At the time of hatch- 

 ing, far more care and attention is required 

 than in the case of the common hen, but in 

 the degree of protection which she shows 

 towards her brood, the turkey hen is far 



