THE TURKEY 153 



apt to become frostbitten from such exposure to the 

 air on the sudden decline of the temperature far be- 

 low the freezing point. It must be remembered that the 

 domestic turkey, hardy as it is when adult, is not equal 

 in point of endurance to its wild relative breed in the 

 woods and inured to the elements. 



^Turkeys are fond ol wandering about pastures, 

 hedgerows, and the borders of fields ; they love to visit 

 turnip fields, where, besides the leaves of the turnips, 

 which they relish, they find insects, snails, slugs, &c., 

 which they greedily devour. In the morning, they 

 should have a good supply of grain, and after their re- 

 turn from their peregrinations another feed ; by this 

 plan, not only will the due return home of the flock be 

 insured, but the birds will be kept in good store con- 

 dition, and ready at any time to be put upon fattening 

 diet. Never let them be in poor condition this is an 

 axiom in the treatment of all poultry it is difficult, 

 and takes a long time, to bring a bird into proper con- 

 dition, which has been previously poorly fed or half 

 starved. 



CHOICE OF THE TURKEY COOK. 



THE turkey cock should be vigorous, broad in the 

 breast, clean in the legs, with ample wings, and a well- 

 developed tail plumage ; his eyes should be bright, and 

 the carunculated skin of the neck full, and rapid in its 

 changes of color. Though capable of assuming his le- 

 gitimate rank among the hens, when a year old, he is 

 not in perfection, (notwithstanding the contrary opinion 

 of some,) until he has attained his third year, and is 

 entering upon his fourth ; and he continues in his prime 

 for three or four succeeding years. Thus, for two, 

 three, or four years, or longer, may all the young cocks 

 be devoted to the poulterer, one perhaps of particular 

 beauty being preserved within that space of time for 

 the ornament of the farm yard. 



The turkey cocks which are kept for breeding, 

 rather than for the table, "ought not" says Mascall. 

 7* 



