WILD TURKEY. 213 



■where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the Fishing 

 Hawk ; and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is 

 bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the 

 Bald Eagle pursues him, and takes it from him. With all this injustice 

 he is never in good case, but, like those among men who live by sharp- 

 ing and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. Besides, 

 he is a rank coward ; the little King-bird, not bigger than a Sparrow, 

 attacks him boldly, and drives him out of the district. He is, there- 

 fore, by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati 

 of America, who have driven all the King-hirds from our country ; though 

 exactly fit for that order of knights which the French call Chevaliers 

 d' Industrie. I am, on this account, not displeased that the figure is 

 not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For in 

 truth the Turkey is, in comparison, a much more respectable bird, and 

 withal a true original native of America. Eagles have been found in all 

 countries, but the Turkey was peculiar to ours. He is, besides (though 

 a little vain and silly, 'tis true, but not the worse emblem for that), a 

 bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the 

 British guards, who should presume to invade his farm-yard with a red 

 coat on." 



But, since the choleric temper and vanity of the Tame Turkey are 

 proverbial in various languages, in some of which its very name is oppro- 

 brious, and often applied in derision to vainglorious and stupid people, 

 we are better satisfied that its effigy was not placed in the escutcheon 

 of the United States. 



Those who have not observed the Turkey in its wild state, have only 

 seen its deteriorated progeny, which are greatly inferior in size and 

 beauty. So far from having gained by the care of man, and the abun- 

 dance of food accessible in its state of domestication, this bird has 

 degenerated iiot only in Europe and Asia, but, what is certainly extra- 

 ordinary, even in its native country. The domesticated Turkey of 

 America, accustomed as it is to roam in the woods and open fields 

 almost without restraint, is in no respect superior to that of the Euro- 

 pean poultry-yard. I have, however, seen several very beautiful ones 

 from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and Sussex county. New Jersey, 

 that were said to be a cross-breed between the wild cock and tame hen. 

 This crossing often occurs in countries where Wild and Tame Turkeys 

 are found ; it is well known that they will readily approach each other ; 

 and such is the influence of slavery even upon the Turkey, that the 

 robust inhabitant of the forest will drive his degenerate kinsfolk from 

 their own food, and from their females, being generally welcomed by the 

 latter and by their owners, who well know the advantages of such a con- 

 nection. The produce of this commixture is much esteemed by epicures, 

 uniting the luscious obesity of the one, with the wild flavor of the other. 



