PLUMAGE OF THE WILD TURKEY. 227 



Easter week, would scarcely present a greater contrast 

 than the wild turkey when placed by the side of the 

 tame. Every look, every motion, betokens health and 

 purity of blood ; his well-formed game-looking head 

 stands at least four feet from the ground ; he has none 

 of the dull, stupid look of the domestic bird, but his 

 bright hazel eye is full of fire, intelligence, and suspi- 

 cion; his step is clean and firm, while the greater 

 breadth of shoulder and depth of chest must strike the 

 most casual observer. 



The head and neck of the wild turkey is generally 

 of a darker blue than in the tame species ; the tuft on 

 the breast sometimes measures nearly a foot in length. 

 I have one by me which measures nearly ten inches ; 

 the bird upon which it grew, and which I killed, 

 weighed thirty pounds. Hunters have often spoken of 

 heavier birds — some have stated that they have killed 

 birds weighing as much as forty pounds. This I do 

 not think improbable, though it has never been my 

 fortune to meet such a fine specimen.* 



Towards the end of Februarv the settler in the woods 

 of Texas \vill, if the weather is mild, be roused from his 

 slumbers before daybreak b}^ the cheery cries of the 

 turkey cocks, and the responsive clucking of the hens, 



* Estimated weights I do not care to quote : wherever weights are 

 given they may be relied on, as I superintended the weighing. There 

 is at 'The Field' office the beard of a 'gobbler' which I killed, that 

 weighed thirty pounds. 



Q 2 



