224 



ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, 



plentiful, between the male of the former and the 

 female of the latter; and this mixture, which is well 

 known to improve the breed, is eagerly promoted by 

 the proprietors. Its produce is much esteemed by 

 epicures as uniting the tenderness and high condition 

 of the one with the wild and savoury flavour of the 

 other. M. Bonaparte relates that a gentleman in West 

 Chester County, New York, once procured a young 

 female Wild Turkey, in order to try the experiment of 

 crossing the breed ; but by some accident it did not 

 succeed, and in the ensuing spring the female disap- 

 peared. She returned, however, in the autumn, followed 

 by a large brood, and remained on the farm till the 

 renewal of spring, when she again disappeared, but 

 ao-ain came back in autumn with a second brood. This 

 course she repeated for several successive years. When 

 the eoo's of the Wild Turkey are hatched under a 

 domesticated female, the young still presei-ve a portion 

 of their uncivilized nature, roosting apart from the tame 

 birds, and in other respects showing the force of here- 

 ditary disposition. These are often used as decoy-birds 

 to those in a state of nature. It is remarked that the 

 Wild Turkey will thrive more, and keep in better 

 condition, than the tame, on the same quantity of food. 



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