Causes of Degeneracy. 519 



than moderate-sized ones. As very finely grown turkeys command almost any price, the object 

 of a breeder is to obtain such parent stock as will ensure the majority of the poults to be thus 

 unexceptionable. Adults must form the brood stock, and every approach to wry-backs, or wry- 

 breasts must be discarded altogether as worthless. 



" But there is still another failing in turkeys when dressed for the table far more objectionable 

 than even a wry-breast, viz., the so-called ' short-breasted ' bird, thus named by poulterers from 

 the fact that the keel of the breast-bone rarely measures above four inches in length, and 

 sometimes barely as much as that. 



"It is a strange coincidence that these 'short-breasted' birds are frequently very heavily 

 laden with fat on the back and thighs, far beyond those daily receiving the same care, and 

 running with them, but are almost unsaleable ; and I know this malformation is usually hereditary. 

 The 'bosom' is also sometimes greatly developed; but the carver is doomed (however practical) 

 to disappointment, for of flesh on the breast there is scarcely any. This is a far more objectionable 

 feature than even that of a wry-breast, where the meat may abound on the one side, though so 

 deficient on the other. 



" One other hint may not be here misplaced. When Turkeys are being dressed for home 

 consumption, the breast-bones are far better left entire, than either ' cut down ' or if ' beaten 

 down.' I freely admit such turkeys do not look so well to the inexperienced eye before they have 

 passed the cook's hands ; but to a practical carver, the ease and rapidity of supplying fine slices 

 from the breast, without being hindered or encumbered by broken-up pieces of the ' keel ' bone, 

 is a great desideratum." 



There can be no doubt that it is to the neglect of such reasoning as this, and the continual 

 breeding from small and weakly specimens, that the degeneracy in size and constitution of the 

 Norfolk Turkey is owing ; and we owe much to American breeders for showing us what can be 

 done by skill and care in producing birds beautiful to the eye, and even coming up to the 

 requirements of a " fancier," yet surpassing in size our own strains. Something is no doubt owing 

 to the fact that the gobblers are often not allowed to run with the hens, many breeders keeping 

 no gobbler at all, but sending their hens to a neighbour, as it is found that one fecundation fertilises 

 a whole batch of eggs. Of this there is no doubt whatever ; but we entertain a strong suspicion 

 that the chicks thus produced are not equal in vigour to those bred on farms where the hens are 

 left in company with the male, and should rather be disposed to recommend the permanent mating 

 of a fine cock with a dozen or fifteen hens. The fact that with a greater number the stock is apt 

 to prove weakly is itself strongly in favour of such a supposition. 



Much of the alleged delicacy of young turkeys is also no doubt owing to the degeneracy of 

 the strain ; the produce of an American cross being always found much more hardy. It is, 

 however, quite true that during the earlier weeks, and before the young birds " shoot the red," as 

 it is expressively called, or develop the red carunculated protuberances about the neck and throat, 

 they are peculiarly susceptible to wet, so that even one good wetting will perceptibly thin a large' 

 btood. After that period is passed, however, they become daily more hardy, so that they will 

 roost in trees during winter, if permitted, without any injury, unless unusually severe frost may 

 cause frost-bitten toes. The period of danger being thus limited, it is well worth while to take 

 special care while it lasts. Special and ample shelter should therefore be provided, and if the hens 

 are at liberty they should be driven under it on the approach of a shower ; by which m^ans, if well 

 fed, the dangers of infancy may be warded off. For a period of one to three weeks — depending on 

 the weather — the hen should always be confined, the turkey chicks being, however, allowed to run 

 out on the grass during dry days. Such management, with plenty of good meal as food, will bring 



