CHAPTER IX 



THE TUBKEY 



OF all our barnyard fowls, the turkey is the most 

 remarkable except the peacock, which is raised 

 only for the incomparable richness of its plumage. 

 The turkey-gobbler has his head and neck covered 



with bare bluish 

 skin, embellished 

 behind with white 

 nipples and in 

 front with red 

 ones, which swell 

 and hang down 

 in large pendants, 

 resembling seal- 

 ing wax in color. 

 Over his beak 

 falls a piece of 

 flesh, short and wrinkled when the bird is in repose, 

 hanging far down and of brilliant coloring when he 

 wishes to display his charms. In the middle of his 

 breast is fastened an unkempt sort of mane. To 

 show off, he bridles up, inflates his red pendants, 

 elongates the piece of flesh over his beak, throws his 

 head back, spreads out his tail feathers in the shape 



61 



Turkey 



