THE POULTRY KIND. 14 



is asserted, that the turkey, so far from being 

 unknown in Europe before that time, was known 

 even to the ancients, and that ^Elian has given a 

 pretty just description of it. They allege, that 

 its very name implies its having been brought 

 from some part of the East ; and that it is found, 

 among other dainties, served up to the tables of 

 the great, before that time, among ourselves. 

 But what they pretend to be the strongest proof 

 is, that though the wild turkey be so very com- 

 mon in America, yet the natives cannot contrive 

 to tame it ; and though hatched in the ordinary 

 manner, nothing can render it domestic. In this 

 diversity of opinions, perhaps, it is best to sus- 

 pend assent till more lights are thrown on the 

 subject j however, I am inclined to concur with 

 the former opinion. 



With us, when young, it is one of the tenderest 

 of all birds ; yet, in its wild state, it is found in 

 great plenty in the forests of Canada, that are 

 covered with snow above three parts of the year. 

 In their natural woods, they are found much 

 larger than in their state of domestic captivity. 

 They are much more beautiful also, their feathers 

 being of a dark grey bordered at the edges with 

 a bright gold colour. These the savages of the 

 country weave into cloaks to adorn their persons, 

 and fashion into fans and umbrellas, but never 

 once think of taking into keeping animals that 

 the woods furnish them with in sufficient abund- 

 ance. Savage man seems to find a delight in 

 precarious possession. A great part of the plea- 

 sure of the chase lies in the uncertainty of the 



47 



