THE WILD TURKEY. 473 



come off victor in the contest. The Bantam is of little use to the poultry -keeper, and may be 

 classed among the fancy fowls, of which there are so many and ever-varying breeds. 



The common Barn-door Fowl is of no particular breed, no pains being taken to prevent 

 crossing, but is a kind of compound of all the preceding, except, perhaps, the bantam, which 

 ought to be kept away from them as tending to diminish the size of the birds and their eggs. 

 The regular egg trade is a very complicated and curious affair, giving a livelihood to thousands, 

 and possessing a national importance of which few would dream whose only notion of eggs is 

 connected with the breakfast- table or the salad -bo^vl. 



A MOST singular group of l)irds now comes before our notice, of which the Horned Tra- 

 GOPAN affords an example. The males are remarkable for the loose, pendent skin which hangs 

 from the base of the lower mandibles, and can be inflated at the pleasure of the bird, and for 

 the two lengthened protuberances behind the eyes which generally hang listlessly down the 

 cheeks, but can be erected at will, and then look as shown in the illustration. In all these 

 birds the plumage is ample and the tail short. As far as is at present known they are found 

 in the higher and more mountainous districts of Asia, having been taken in Thibet, Nepal, 

 and the Himalayas. 



They are all beautifully colored, and the present example may challenge competition with 

 any of the species, if not for absolute brilliance of plumage, yet for delicacy of tint, and 

 pleasing marking of its feathers. The bare skin around the eyes, together with the wattles 

 and horns are bluish -purple, and the feathers of the^crest, together with the chin and back 

 of the neck, are deep black. The upper part of the breast, the neck, and shoulders, are light 

 cinnamon with a dash of carmine and purple, and variegated by the white eye-like tips of 

 the feathers. The wings and part of the back are rich amber mottled with bro\vn, and also 

 decorated with white spots. The spots are largest and most conspicuous upon the flanks. 

 The tail-coverts are also amber-brown, spotted with white, and extend to such a length as 

 nearly to conceal their short rounded tail. In size, the Tragopan about equals a common 

 Spanish fowl. 



The Turkey family, 3feleagrifi, is an American one exclusively. Three species comprise 

 the entire group. The Honduras Turkey is a very rare species, having much of the brilliancy 

 of plumage seen in the pheasants. 



The common Wild Turkey {Meleagris gaUojxiiw) inhabits the region from North Caro- 

 lina northward, and from the Atlantic to Texas and Arkansas. In New England, where it 

 was once abundant, it is extinct. In the unsettled portions of the Southwest and Western 

 States, watered by the Mississippi and Missouri, it is abundant ; though its flnal extinction 

 in all quarters is thought to be in the near future. ItstiU occurs along the line of the 

 Alleghanies. 



The Wild Turkey is sometimes domesticated, but soon manifests a disposition to seek its 

 liberty. 



Late in October it assembles in flocks in the rich bottom lands of the Western rivers, 

 the males keeping apart, and associating in groups of a hundred or less. The females move 

 at the same time, and towards the same point, leading their brood of the season. It is said 

 they avoid the old males, who have a disposition to fight the young birds. They move in 

 these migrations on foot, excepting when a stream is to be crossed. An amusing delay is 

 seen at this point ; they don't attempt the crossing for a day or more. Meantime the old 

 males strut about and marshal the forces, as if to make ready for a simultaneous rising. The 

 females and young partake in these demonstrations, emitting a purring noise while strutting 

 up and down the river banks. When all is ready, they mount to the tops of high trees, and 

 at a signal, take flight for the opposite shore. 



Wild Turkeys are hunted in a variety of ways. In the spring they are attracted by 

 drawing the air in a peculiar manner through one of the second joint bones of a wing. The 

 sound thus produced resembles the voice of a female, on hearing which the male quickly 

 appears, and is an easy game for the hunter. The cry of the barred owl is imitated, which 



Vol. n.-80 



