TURKEYS. 253 



garden for almost nothing, requiring only a house two feet 

 square to roost and lay in. 



Bantam eggs are just nicely cooked by pouring boiling 

 water over them in a breakfast cup, on the table. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



TURKEYS. GUINEA-FOWL. PEA-FOWL. 



THE most opposite opinions have been expressed by dif- 

 ferent breeders as to whether or not the rearing of turkeys 

 in England is profitable. The mortality in turkey chicks is 

 very often tremendous, and quite sufficient to eat up any 

 possible amount of profit; but there are persons who for 

 years have reared almost every chick ; and, under these 

 circumstances, they will yield a very fair return. For 

 about the first six weeks or two months turkey chicks, as 

 usually reared in England, are excessively delicate as regards 

 wet. The very slightest shower, even in warm weather, will 

 often carry off half of a large brood. When about two 

 months old, however, the red naked protuberances about 

 the neck and throat begin to appear, and as soon as these 

 are fairly developed, or the birds " shoot the red," as it is 

 called, the chicks become poults, and are hardier than most 

 other fowls. 



The large importation recently of the American bronze 

 turkey, and consequent increase of information about 

 American methods, have lately shown that the causes of 

 this early delicacy have not been altogether understood. 

 It has not been sufficiently taken into account that the 

 turkey, like the pheasant, still retains in large degree its 

 character and constitution as a wild bird ; and accordingly, 



