202 TURKEY. 



her mate, lest he should interrupt her in the business of 

 sitting, or break her eggs. 



THE TURKEY. 



This fowl, which is now perfectly naturalised among 

 us, was unknown before the discovery of America, to 

 which quarter of the world it was indigenous. It was 

 first imported into France in the reign of Francis the First, 

 and into England under Henry the Eighth. .ZElian, 

 indeed, mentions a bird found in India, which is imagined 

 to have been the turkey ; but some writers are of opinion 

 that it was either the peacock, or some bird of that 

 genus. 



The young of the turkey in this country are among 

 the tenderest of birds, yet, in their wild state, they are 

 capable of enduring a Canadian winter of nine months. 

 In their natural forests they are much larger, as well as 

 more beautiful, than in their state of domestic captivity ; 

 their plumage being grey, bordered at the edges with a 

 bright gold colour. 



The hunting of this bird constitutes a principal diversion 

 of the American Indian, and its flesh greatly contributes 

 to the support of his family. When he has discovered 

 the retreat of a flock, he takes with him a dog that he 

 has trained to the sport, and which he sends into the 

 midst of them. The turKeys make a precipitate retreat, 

 running with prodigious swiftness ; but, being at last tired 

 out, they take shelter in a tree ; where they sit till the 

 hunter arrives, who, with a long pole, knocks them down 

 successively. 



Turkeys are furious among themselves, but extremely 

 weak and timid among animals of a different species. 

 Even the common cock generally makes the turkey keep 

 his distance ; yet the latter is insolent and vain, and, 

 even when baffled, returns to his females strutting in all 

 the pride of victory. The female lays about eighteen or 

 twenty eggs, and is assiduous in providing her young witli 

 insects, which they prefer to all other food. 



