43 DOMESTIC TUHKET. " 



strongest birds arc those of a bronzed-black ; these are not onlj 

 reared the most easily, but are gcnstally the largest, and fatten 

 the most rapidly. Some turkeys are of a coppery tint, some of a 

 delicate fawn-color, while others are parti-colored, grey, and 

 wliite, and some few of a pure snow white. All of the latter 

 are regarded as inferior to the black, their color indicating some- 

 thing like degeneracy of constitution. 



To describe the domestic turkey is superfluous; the voice of 

 the male; the changing colors of the skin of the bead and neck; 

 his proud strut, with expanded tail and lowered wings, jarring 

 on the ground; his irascibility, which is readily excited by red 

 or scarlet colors, are points with which all who d*-ell in the 

 country are conversant. 



The adult turkey, is" extremely hardy, and bears the rigors of 

 winter with impunity even in thdf^ open air; for during the 

 severest weather, flocks will freg^uently roost at night upon the 

 roof of a bam, or the branches- of tall trees, preferring such an 

 accommodation to an incfoor roost. ThS impWience of restraint 

 and restlessness of the turkey, render it unflt company for fowls 

 ill their doinitory; in fact the fowl house is altogether an im- 

 proper place for these largo birds, which require open sheds and 

 high perches, and altogether as inuch freedom as is consistent 

 with their safety. 



Although, turkeys will roost even during the winter months 

 ou trees, it is by no means recommended that this should bo 

 allowed, as the feet of these bii-ds are apt to become frostbitten 

 from such exposure to the ajr on the sudden decline of the tem- 

 perature far below the freezing point. 



Turkeys arc fond of wandering about pastures, and the borders 

 of fields, or in fact any place where they can And insects, snails, 

 slugs, etc., which they greedily devour. In the morning, tlffiy 

 should have a good supply of grain, and after their renim from 

 their peregrinations another feed; by this plan, not only will tba 



