364 THE TURKEY. 



reputed to be the only possessor of these; and I believe hn 

 imported them. On one occasion, the earl presented George 

 IV. with a fine black charger, which was graciously received ; 

 but the king is said to have remarked to those in his confi- 

 dence, that a horse was of no use to him, as he could not ride, 

 but that Earl Powys did possess something which he should 

 much value. This was reported to his lordship, and after 

 some difiiculty it was found out that a pair of American 

 Turkeys would be most acceptable, and they were sent. I 

 merely mention this to show that their wild descent was 

 believed in high quarters. The late Lord Leicester was also 

 said to possess the wild breed ; and I well remember his telling 

 my father they were so, and remarking that they got their 

 food so much more readily than the tame kinds. I originally 

 had my breed from Lord Leicester, and have since crossed 

 them with Earl Powys's. The two breeds differ in the latter 

 having the wing-feathers, or rather quills, barred with white, 

 while Lord Leicester's are wholly dark. Both Cocks and 

 Hens are beautifully metallic, far my re so than any breed 

 that I know. The shape of the Hens is also more elongated, 

 and there is a sprightliness about the head, which is also 

 better shaped. Audubon's plate of the Turkey strongly re- 

 minds me of my own. Much of this may be fancy; yet I 

 have not a doubt upon the subject, but believe that they are 

 genuine wild American Turkeys. They also invariably lay 

 later than the common breeds." 



A great point in this account is, that the birds are de- 

 scended from recently wild ancestors, and have not merely 

 been lately brought from America. For this query suggests 

 itself to our mind: Are the majority of the American farm- 

 yard Turkeys the progeny of individuals domesticated from 

 the forest ; or, is it not possible that some at least of the 

 colonists may have taken out with them tame Turkeys from 

 England as stock, and so founded a farm-yard race for parts 



