StRDS. 119 



found among other dainties served up to the tables of the great, 

 before that time among ourselves. But what they pretend to. 

 be the strongest proof is, that though the wild turkey be so nu- 

 merous in America, yet the natives cannot contrive to tame it ; 

 and though hatched in the ordinary manner, nothing can render 

 it domestic. In this diversity of opinions, perhaps it is best to 

 suspend assent till more lights are thrown on the subject : how- 

 ever, I am inclined to concur with the former opinion.* 



With us, when young, it is one of the tenderest of all birds ; 

 yet, in its wild state, it is found in great plenty in the forests of 

 Canada, that are covered with snow above three parts of the 

 year. In the natural woods they arc found much larger than in 

 their state of domestic captivity. They are much more beauti- 

 ful also, their feathers being of a dark gray, bordered at the 

 edges with a bright gold colour. These the savages of the coun- 

 try weave into cloaks to adorn their persons, and fashion into 

 fans and umbrellas, but never once think of taking into keeping 

 animals that the woods furnish them with in sufficient abundance. 

 Savage man seems to find a delight in precarious possession. A 

 great part of the pleasures of the chase lies in the uncertainty of 

 the pursuit, and he is unwilling to abridge himself in any acci- 

 dental success that may attend his fatigues. The hunting the 

 turkey, therefore, makes one of his principal diversions ; as its 

 flesh contributes chiefly to the support of his family. When he 

 has discovered the place of their retreat, which, in general, is 

 near fields of nettles, or where there is plenty of any kind of 

 grain, he takes his dog with him, which is trained to the sport, 

 (a faithful rough creature, supposed to be originally reclaimed 

 from the wolf,) and he sends him into the midst of the flock. 

 The turkeys no sooner perceive their enemy, than they set off 

 running at full speed, and with such swiftness, that they leave 

 the dog far behind them ; he follows, nevertheless, and sensible 

 they must soon be tired, as they cannot go full speed for any 

 length of time, he at last forces them to take shelter in a tree, 

 where they sit quite spent and fatigued till the hunter comes up, 

 and, with a long pole, knocks them down, one after the other. 



This manner of sufljering themselves to be destroyed, argues 

 no great instinct in the animal ; and, indeed, in their captive 



• It is now universally allowed, that the turkey Is originally a native of 

 Aioeriru. 



