The Turkey. 307 



Turkeys, which is there a considerable branch of trade, 

 is brought to great perfection ; and some weighing up- 

 wards of twenty pounds each have been raised there. 

 They appear to have a natural antipathy to everything of 

 a red colour. 



Though extremely prone to quarrel among themselves, 

 they are, in general, weak and cowardly against other 

 animals, and fly from almost every creature that ventures 

 to oppose them. On the contrary, they pursue every- 

 thing that appears to dread them, particularly small dogs 

 and children; and after having made these objects of 

 their aversion scamper, they evince their pride and sa- 

 tisfaction by displaying their plumage, strutting about 

 among their female train, and uttering their peculiar note 

 of self-approbation. Some instances, however, have oc- 

 curred, in which the Turkey-cock has exhibited a consi- 

 derable share of courage and prowess ; as will appear 

 from the following anecdote: A gentleman of New 

 York received from a distant part a Turkey-cock and 

 hen, and with them a pair of bantams ; which were 

 put all together into the yard with his other poultry. 

 Some time afterwards, as he was feeding them from the 

 barn-door, a large hawk suddenly turned the corner of 

 the barn, and made a pounce at the bantam hen: she 

 immediately gave the alarm, by a noise which is natural 

 to her on such occasions ; when the Turkey-cock, who 

 was at the distance of about two yards, and without 

 doubt understood the hawk's intention, flew at the tyrant 

 with such violence, and gave him so severe a stroke with 

 his spurs, as to knock him from the hen to a considerable 

 distance ; by which means the bantam was rescued from 

 destruction. 



The wild Turkey-cock is, in the American forests, 

 an object of considerable interest. It perches on the 

 tops of the deciduous cypress and magnolia : 



" On the top 



Of yon magnolia, the loud Turkey's voice 

 Is heralding the dawn : from tree to tree 

 Extends the wakening watch-note far and wide, 

 Till the whole woodlands echo with the cry." 



SOUTHEY. 



