VARIETIES, MATING AND SHOWING 



well, therefore, to avoid breeders which are especially 

 short in legs and to select those which are moderately 

 long in legs but not too long. Avoid also as breeders any 

 birds which are lop-sided or which have crooked breasts 

 or crooked backs. The head should be of good size and 

 length and of a clean healthy appearance. Avoid heads 

 which tend to be too short. 



Certain differences in the head over those of the ordi- 

 nary domestic fowl need comment. In the first place the 

 turkey has no comb such as is found on the chicken, but 

 does have a fleshy elastic proturberance extending out 

 from the head above the base of the upper bill, and which 

 when expanded to its full length hangs down beside and 

 below the bill. This is referred to variously as the dew- 

 bill or snout. The turkey does not have two wattles as in 

 the chicken but has a single throat wattle extending from 

 the underside of the lower bill part way down the throat. 

 The head is devoid of feathers and both the head and 

 upper part of the neck are covered with rough or caruncu- 

 lated skin. There is some tendency for the caruncles of 

 the males to be too smooth, that is not heavy or distinct 

 enough so as to give a good masculine appearance. The 

 color of the head and neck is red, which at times changes 

 to a lighter or bluish color. 



Occasionally, turkeys occur which have more or less 

 of a crest or tuft of feathers on the head. These are rare, 

 however, and there is no breed or variety which possesses 

 this characteristic. 



The back line of the turkey beginning at the base of the 



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