Wild Turkey Crosses 283 



the woods or on the top of a house or barn. When 

 raised from the egg they become 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 health- 

 ier than common turkeys and rarely have disease. 

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

 blood gobblers are not so wild and are suitable 

 for crossing with domestic hens. A small proportion 

 of wild blood improves 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 to woody lands 

 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 

 then- 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 flock of half-wild birds reared at the Sta- 

 tion this season was very tame and unsuspicious 

 until several were snared for exhibition at the Kings- 



