THE WILD TURKEY. 81 



utterly unfit to be eaten, and express their disap- 

 pointment in the expectation of a good meal from 

 some which they shot from a tree. The supposed 

 existence, in America, of a breed of wild turkeys 

 unfit for food, is as old as the time of the Buc- 

 caneers ; it is certain, however, that there is also a 

 very eatable and excellent breed in both North and 

 South America, though it be but lately that we have 

 any account of the introduction of an American va- 

 riety into this country. 



This bird, of such worth and consequence for 

 domestic use, was most probably introduced into 

 this country from Spain, soon after the discovery of 

 America; since Tusser, who lived in the reign of 

 Henry VII., represents it as a common Christmas 

 dish, together with pig, goose, and capon. The 

 turkey did not reach France quite so early; the 

 first intelligence we have of it in that country, being 

 at the nuptial feast of Charles IXth, in the year 

 1570. They have since been domesticated through- 

 out the civilized world, in every climate, although 

 said not to succeed equally on the barren sands of 

 Africa. 



There is a sameness of colour in the wild turkey, 

 and the original stock seems to have been black, do- 

 mestication generally inducing a variety of colours. 

 Yet one would suppose that white also must have 

 been a primitive colour with them, else the transition 

 from black to white would be rather unaccountable. 

 In a state of nature, they are said to parade in flocks 

 of five hundred, and even five thousand, feeding, in 



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