THE TURKEY. 251 



and copper- col our up to white. Moulting -will some- 

 times occasion a great change in the plumage, but black 

 turkeys are far more abundant, as they are more valu- 

 able than any other. 



Turkeys are justly regarded as the most valuable of 

 fowls, uniting a large size with peculiar delicacy of 

 flavour. They require more care in the rearing than 

 other fowls, but this is amply compensated by their 

 ultimate vahie. The turkey-cock is recommended by 

 an old writer to be '' a bird large, stout, proud, majes- 

 tical, for when he walketh dejected he is never good." 



THE I'UKKJCY. 



One turkey-cock is generally kept to every dozen or 

 fourteen hens, and in providing shelter for them it is 

 necessary to remember the size of these birds, and the 

 evident fondness they have for roosting in high places. 

 Thus in warm summer weather, when allowed full 

 liberty, they will be sure to choose a tree as their most 

 natural roosting-place ; and it can scarcely be consi- 



