VARIETIES, MATING AND SHOWING 



North. In mating, therefore, it is necessary to be sure 

 that the birds from the same general section of the coun- 

 try are mated together rather than to use in the mating 

 birds from different sections in which the coloration 

 varies. Where birds from the same general section are 

 used, the wild turkey breeds very true in color. However, 

 birds must be avoided as breeders which tend to run light 

 or mossy on the wings. 



The Bronze Turkey. As stated under the wild turkey, 

 wild blood has been introduced to a greater or less extent 

 into the Bronze variety. This has had the effect of spoil- 

 ing the plumage color to some extent, especially in causing 

 the white band at the end of the feathers to be creamy or 

 yellowish brown instead of silver white. However, the 

 ^occasional introduction of some wild blood has been neces- 

 sary in order to keep up the rich bronze color especially 

 on the back. In a general way the Bronze variety may 

 be said to be of a rich, brilliant, copperish bronze against 

 a background of black and brown and contrasted by the 

 clear white tips of the tail coverts and main tail feathers. 

 The brilliancy of the plumage is usually greatest when the 

 birds are two or three years old, improving in this respect 

 over the younger birds. The brilliancy of the plumage is 

 also greatest at the beginning of the breeding season. As 

 the breeding season progresses some of the brilliancy is 

 lost from the male plumage, and this is likewise true of 

 the hens soon after they begin to lay. 



In selecting the breeders for the production of exhibi- 

 tion stock, breed from birds with good open bronze bar- 



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