440 GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



gained the reputation of stupidity. This bird, however, sometimes 

 gives proofs of intelligence, as the following fact, related by Audu- 

 bon, shows. He had raised a Wild Turkey from its most tender 

 age, which had become extremely tame, but the love of indepen- 

 dence remained very strong in the bird, for it could not accustom 

 itself to the pent-up life of its domestic relations. Thus it enjoyed 

 the greatest freedom ; it went and came, passing nearly all its time 

 in the woods, onlj' returning to the house in the evening. At length 

 it ceased to come back, and from that moment dispensed with 

 visiting its birth-place. Some time after, Audubon, whilst hunting, 

 perceived a superb Wild Turkey, upon which he set his dog ; but, 

 to his great surprise, the bird did not &j, and the dog, instead of 

 seizing it when it was overtaken, stopped and turned his head 

 towards his master : greater still was the hunter's surprise ^^'hen, 

 having approached, he discovered his ancient pen.sioner. This 

 Turkey had recognised the dog, and understood that it would do 

 him no harm, otherwise it would have scampered off immediately. 

 Tui'keys feed upon herbs, grasses, fruits, and berries of every 

 •description ; they are partial to beech and other nuts ; and their 

 liking for wheat and maize is such that they frequent the 

 neighbouihood of cultivated fields, where thej' make the greatest 

 ravages. They also occasionallj^ feed upon insects, irogs, and 

 lizards. The large destructive grub familiarly known as the 

 Tobacco Worm they are particularly partial to, and are con- 

 sequently much encouraged by the tobacco planters. In a 

 domestic state thej^ are even known to have killed and eaten 

 rats. One curious peculiarity in the history of the Turkey 

 is its horror of red ; the sight of a scarlet object throws it 

 into the most comical fury. It is needless for us to vaunt the 

 flesh of the Domestic Turkey ; every one is agreed on this subject. 

 Wc will only say that, from the testimony of many travellers and 

 naturalists, the flesh of a Wild Turkej', killed in winter or spring, 

 before laying, is far superior to that of the Domestic bird, those 

 coming irem Southern Indiana and Illinois being considered bv 

 Americans as the finest. The Turkey, being indigenous to 

 America, was naturallj' unknown to the ancients. The precise 

 date of its introduction into France is not recorded. According 

 to some, it was at the end of the fifteenth century; to others, 



