106 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



which this bird was first introduced into Europe, much 

 doubt still exists, and we have, indeed, no authentic proof as 

 to either the period of time, or by what agency, that event took 

 place ; it is, however, not unreasonable to suppose that the 

 Spaniards, after their discovery of Mexico, where the turkey is 

 known to be indigenous, brought specimens away with them, on 

 their return to their own country ; and Oviedo, the earliest 

 describer of this bird, speaks of it as having been domesticated 

 by the Christian inhabitants of New Spain and the Spanish 

 Main. 



In 1530, the turkey w.|s introduced into England ; but it 

 seems moro probable that that country owes its introduction 

 to Cabot's having brought it direct from America, than that it 

 was obtained from Spain ; for if the latter were the case, I think 

 it likely that some record of its transmission would remain. 



In 1541, we find turkeys enumerated among the delicacies 

 of the table, and classed with the crane and swan ; but the bird 

 was too important an addition to our stock of domestic poultry 

 to remain very long a rarity. Attention was drawn towards it, 

 it was bred extensively ; and in 1573 we find it mentioned in 

 * Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry,' as forming the 

 staple of the farmer's ordinary Christmas dinner. 



The origin of the popular name, Turkey,' appears to be 

 the confusion that at first so unaccountably subsisted relative to 

 the identity of the bird with the Guinea fowl, which is really a 

 native of that country, and which was introduced into England 

 from the Levant, and at the time of the introduction of the tur- 

 key was still scarce. Some say it arose from the proud and 

 Turkish strut of the cock." 



