24 POULTRYKIND. 



Stupid, vain, querulous, yet without weapons. Every body knows 

 the ftrange antipathy of the turkey-cock to red ; hov/ he fwells, and, with 

 his pecular gobbling, flies to brave it. If the head of a turkey be 

 fnneared with dirt, the reft run to attack it with all fpeed. Two of them, 

 thus difguifed, will fight each other till almoft fufFocatcd with fatigue and 

 anger. Weak and cowardly againft other animals j there is none, how 

 contemptible foever, that will boldly face the turkey-cock, but he will fly 

 fronn: while, ^vith the infolence of a bully, hepurfues any that feems to 

 fear him J yet fometimes they will defend themfelves againfl vermin, 

 as ferrets, &c. 



The female feems milder. Hunts about in qucft of grain and infedlsj 

 js delighted with the eggs of ants and caterpillars. Lays eighteen or 

 twenty eggs, larger than thofe of a hen, whitifh, but marked with fpots 

 refembling freckles. Her young are extremely tender at firft, and often 

 have not ftrength to pierce the fhell which includes them. 



Some are white, others black and white j often white and brownifli 

 yellow. 



Properly fpeaking, the turkey has two tails, one fuperior, the other 

 inferior; the firft: compofed of eighteen great feathers, which he can 

 ereft at pleafure, the other horizontal, as ufual. The male has a fpur on 

 his leg. Some are tufted. 



When grown up, turkies are hardy birds, bearing even expofure to 

 the rigour of winter, and feed themfelves at very little cxpence. Thofe 

 of Norfolk are faid to be the largeft of this kingdom, weighing from 

 twenty to thirty pounds. In the Eaft Indies (where they are known only 

 in their domeftic ftate) they grow to the weight of fixty pounds. 

 Abundant in the Antilles, where they breed three or four times a year. 



THE PEACOCK. 



WHEN this bird appears with its tail expanded, none of the fea- 

 thered creation can vie with its beauty; but its horrid fcream 

 abates the pleafure of viewing it, while its gluttony and depredation 

 render it a noxious domeftic. Sheds its tail annually, and then conceals 

 tfclf, as if aftiamed. Is faid to be very fufccptiblc of flattery, and to 



fpread 



