436 



POULTRY CULTURE 



Note. The Bronze Turkey is everywhere recognized as altogether the best 

 existing type. Considering its properties collectively, it may well be doubted 

 whether the type can be improved upon. It is a rugged race, growing sometimes 

 to great size but on the average not up to the standards for exhibition weights 

 for other varieties. 



Table XXIL American Standard Weights of Turkeys 



The Bronze, to carry its greater weight, is a heavier-boned turkey than the 

 others. In the largest specimens (usually old males) the meat is likely to be 

 coarse-fibered ; in ordinary comparisons of average birds no difference in this 

 quality is noted. For table form, without regard to size, the favorite type of 

 the Narragansett is the finest American type of turkey, closely resembling in 

 shape the Cambridge Bronze of England. The shape of the Narragansett is 

 as obviously due to selection for abundance of breast meat as the vigor and 

 size of the Bronze are to vigorous wild blood and to favorable conditions in 



domestication. These are prac- 

 tically the only variety differ- 

 ences, other than color, found 

 in turkeys. 



Peafowls. Peafowls are 

 supposed to be natives of 

 Java and Ceylon. They 

 have been domesticated in 

 Asia and Europe since very 

 early times. The most fa- 

 miliar variety is that known 

 as the common peafowl, 

 about as large as a medium-sized turkey, the adult male ha\-ing 

 gorgeous, iridescent blue-green plumage, the female, grayish 

 brown. A white variety is also frequently seen. These are the only 

 kinds requiring special mention, although several other varieties 



Fig. 464. White Guinea hen with brood 



