170 [Assembly 



prevent or lessen the depredations of hunters, and by encouraging 

 an association between this mixed race of the woods and moun- 

 tains and domestic turkey. It requires little trouble if they are 

 anywhere near ; they are extremely partial to each other, and by 

 certain signs and noises they give and make, are readily brought 

 together. We have understood, from good authority lately, that 

 farmers some years ago living near mountains in Pennsylvania 

 and New-Jersey, where this mongrel race resorted and kept, 

 have often had their turkey hens return home after being 

 absent a few weeks, with a fine brood of young turkejs. They 

 had set and hatched their eggs in the mountains or woods. The 

 old hen with her young, would stay quietly at home, on being fed 

 and cared for, until the latter got old and strong enough to travel 

 some distance and to fly when they would begin to show their 

 wild propensities, and absent themselves for a few days and re- 

 turn voluntarily. Besides this, they could easily be distinguished 

 from the others by their feathers, w^hich were darker and more 

 glossy. At this period the owners generally made sure ot them 

 by cooping or confining them. They were handsomer and larger 

 every way than the tame ones of about the same age, and would 

 bring nearly a third more in market, if properly prepared, gene- 

 rally allowed to be superior every way, iicluding flavor. 



In several points of our high lands in our own State, including 

 the Catskill mouatains, we have been infoimed by those who 

 knew the fact well, that there were many cases within the last 

 forty years, of farmers living on these mountains, or in their vici- 

 nity, having their turkey hens return home after a little absence, 

 with fine broods of young ones of this mongrel race, which added 

 much to the profit and beauty of their flocks. Indeed we have 

 been informed within a few weeks, by a gentleman in whom we 

 can place confidence, that he shot in November last, (1852) on 

 the Shawangunk mountains, about two or three miles fr<>m the 

 Delaware and Hudson River canal, two wild turkies, so called in 

 that neighborhood, large and handsome, with dark bright teatheis, 

 and fat, it being in the season of nuts and acorns. Tl;is guitle- 

 man, with others, dined on them and found them a first rate dish. 

 This shows that the wild race is not yet extinct among us, even 

 in our own State. 



