Judging Turkeys. 521 



• Sometimes turkey chicks are very stupid when first hatched, not seeming to know how to peck. 

 The best plan we know of to meet this difficulty is to put a few common hen's eggs under the hen 

 about the seventh day of incubation, so as to hatch out at the same time as tlie turkey chicks. 

 TJiese Httle youngsters will be sharp enough, and by their example teach the duller turkey chicks 

 how to feed. We may also remark that nearly, if not quite, all kinds of pulse, such as peas, tares, 

 &c., are very injurious to turkeys of any age, and should be kept from their food. This precaution 

 is specially necessary if pigeons are kept, which are so fond of this very kind of diet. 



In a state of nature the turkey-cock seeks to destroy the eggs and chickens during the 

 processes of incubation and rearing. Many domestic birds evince the same instinct ; which in that 

 case must of course be duly guarded against by shutting up the offender, or at least secluding him 

 from the rearing-ground. Other cocks, however, show a very satisfactory disposition in these 

 respects, and require no such precaution ; we have even known cases in which the male appeared 

 to desire a share in the duties of incubation, as is the case in many kinds of birds. 



In America and some parts of England the young turkey-cocks are called " toms." It amused 

 us to find, whilst on a visit in Berkshire on one occasion, that the country-folk there called the 

 males of their ordinary poultry by the same term ; probably on the same principle according to 

 which the males of the feline race are called "tom-cats," or a particularly obstreperous girl a 

 "tom-%." 



Crested turkeys have been mentioned by various ancient naturalists, and for some time were 

 considered to be a distinct species ; but all attempts to breed them true to this point having as yet 

 failed, the crests must be considered to be merely accidental sports, though undoubtedly showing 

 the strong relationship or affinity between the turkey and peacock tribes. Various specimens 

 have been found from time to time, and it is somewhat singular that in every case we have found 

 record of the birds have been cocks. These birds have been bred from, but have hitherto failed to 

 produce any crested progeny. The experiment has been tried both by Mr. Simpson in America 

 and by Mr. Tegetmeier in this country, as well as by others ; but both gentlemen failed to produce 

 even a trace of a crest. Mr. Tegetmeier, who is well known to take peculiar interest in singular 

 variations, took particular pains, breeding back from the progeny of the crested gobbler to the 

 male parent himself, thus employing three-fourths of crested blood ; but the result was as before ; 

 and we hear from Mr. Simpson, who also took some pains in the matter, that no success is known 

 to have been obtained by any individual. The crest, therefore, remains as an accidental " sport," 

 and nothing more, as regards all present experience ; though Temminck states that Madame 

 Backer had a whole flock of crested turkeys in her aviary at the Hague. 



JUDGING TURKEYS. — In the ordinary English judging of turkeys it is impossible to find 

 anything which can be reduced to a Scale of Points. Beauty of plumage and condition are taken 

 into consideration to a moderate extent ; but judging depends far more upon weight than anything 

 else, the heaviest bird being almost invariably awarded the first prize. 



The introduction of the splendid American Bronze breed will not improbably lead to some 

 change in this respect, there being a certain standard of plumage to which these birds are bred in 

 America, and to which, there at least, they are expected to conform. That this is not inconsistent 

 with size and weight is conclusively proved by their having beaten us on our own ground, even 

 at the scales ; a fact which goes far to prove what we have elsewhere advanced, that " fancy 

 breeding" is not contrary, but conducive, to the production of the finest poultry. The schedule here 

 given is copied from the American " Standard of Excellence," as we cannot for obvious reasons 

 put it into our own form till greater experience in judging shall afford the materials ; the scale 

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