88 TUEKEY CULTUEEo 



results of such a cross in almost every case have been 

 so satisfactory that such matings are much desired by tur- 

 key raisers in those sections, and young wild birds are 

 caught for this purpose and brought up with common 

 young turkeys. Yery often nests of wild turkey eggs are 

 found in the woods and hatched on the farm. These 

 domesticated wild birds usually persist in roosting sepa- 

 rate from the others, generally in the woods or on the top 

 of a house or barn. When raised from the egg they be- 

 come more gentle and fearless than the domestic turkey, 

 but if chased or frightened they recover their wild habits 

 very quickly. Wild turkey crosses are hardier and 

 healthier than common turkeys, and rarely have disease. 

 Half-blood hens are generally too wild, but half-blood 

 gobblers are not as wild and are suitable for crossing with 

 domestic hens. A small proportion of wild blood im- 

 proves the size, form, and general appearance, as well as 

 the vigor, without being a disadvantage in any way. A 

 quarter-wild cross is better, for practical breeding, than a 

 pure wild or half-wild bird. Half -wild crosses do well 

 if allowed a large range, but are not well suited for woody 

 countries or as easily kept on small places as the domestic 

 turkey. Wild turkey hens under domestication and wild 

 first-cross hens often disappear in the spring and are not 

 seen until fall, when they usually return to their own home 

 with a brood of nearly full-grown turkeys. Half-blood 

 mothers make their young too wild. Half-bloods reared 

 by domestic turkey hens are not much inclined to stray. 

 Quarter-bloods, under certain conditions, may be as wild as 

 the wild bird of the woods." 



The wild blood gives the cross an astonishing ability 

 to care for themselves. It is apt to have the strongest in- 

 fluence in breeding. If first crosses are bred together, the 

 stock resembles the pure wild, and after several genera- 

 tions cannot be distinguished from the pure wild by good 

 judges. The older the bird grows the more he ehows the 



