204 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



THE WILD TURKEY. 



cated ; tips of the feathers almost conceal the 

 bronze color. The large quill coverts are of 

 the same color as the back, but more bronzed 

 with purple reflections. The lower part of the 

 back and tail coverts are deep chestnut, banded 

 green and black ; the tail feathers are of the 

 same color, undulatingly barred and minutely 

 sprinkled with black, and having a broad black- 

 ish bar toward the tip, which is pale brown 

 and minutely mottled ; the under parts duller ; 

 breast of the same color as the back, the term- 



inating black band not so broad; sides dark- 

 colored; abdomen and thighs brownish-gray; 

 under tail coverts blackish, glossed with brown, 

 and at the tips bright reddish-brown. 



The plumage of the male is very brilliant ; 

 that of the female is not so beautiful. When 

 strutting about, with tail spread, displaying him- 

 self, this bird has a very stately and handsome 

 appearance, and seems quite sensible of the ad- 

 miration he excites. 



Dr. Bachman says, " that in a state of domes- 



