Pheasants and Turkeys 



It is the Mexican turkey, introduced into Europe early in the 

 sixteenth century, that still abundantly flourishes in poultry yards 

 everywhere, and furnishes our Thanksgiving feasts. Another 

 bird of the southwest, the Rio Grande turkey, that ranges over 

 northeastern Mexico and southeastern Texas, and a fourth and 

 smaller variety, confined to southern Florida, show constant, if 

 slight variations in plumage, but little in nature, which awakens 

 the hope that if American sportsmen were to introduce the 

 southern races where the present species has been killed off, and 

 protect the birds, magnificent sport might be indefinitely pre- 

 served. 



Beginning at early dawn in spring, and before leaving his 

 perch, the male turkey gobbles a shrill, clear love song, quite 

 different at this season, before fat chokes his utterance, from the 

 coarse gobble of the domestic turkey. The females now roost 

 apart, but in the same vicinity. By imitating the hoot of the 

 barred owl, and bv skilful counterfeits of the female's plaintive 

 yelp, produced by old sportsmen with the aid of a turkey wing- 

 bone, or a vibrating leaf placed on the lips, among other devices, 

 the turkey may be lured within gun range, if his education has 

 not gone far. Sailing to the ground from his perch, in the hope 

 of having attracted some hen to his breakfast ground, the cock, 

 at sight of one, displays every charm he possesses : his widely 

 spread tail, his dewlap and warty neck charged with bright red 

 blood ; and drooping his wings as he struts before her, he sucks 

 air into his windbag, only to discharge it with a pulmonic puff, 

 that he evidently considers irresistibly fascinating. Dandified, 

 overwhelmingly conceited, ruffled up with self-importance, he 

 struts and puffs, until suddenly an infuriated rival rushing at him 

 gives battle at once; spurs, claws, beaks, make blood and feathers 

 fly, and the vanquished sultan retires discomfited, leaving the foe 

 in possession of the harem. The turkey is ever a sad polygamist. 

 Once the nesting season, lasting about three months, is over, the 

 male stops gobbling, and not until the young need no care does 

 he rejoin the females and see his well grown offspring for the 

 first time, having enjoyed an idle club life with other selfish 

 males while there was any real work to do. 



The turkey-hen, happy in his exile, even takes pains to hide 

 herself and nest from his lordship, for he becomes frightfully 

 jealous of anything that distracts her attention from him, and will 

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