152 THE TURKEY. 



stead Plains, near New York, which often weigh, when 

 dressed, not more than 4 or 5 lbs. The finest and 

 strongest birds are those of a bronzed black, resemb- 

 ling, as closely as possible, the original stock. These 

 are not only reared the most easily, but are generally 

 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 white, and 

 some few of a pure snow-white. All of the latter are 

 regarded as inferior to the black, their color indicating 

 something like degeneracy of constitution, if not 

 actual disease. A variety is said to exist in the avi- 

 ary of Madame Backer, at the Hague, with a topknot 

 springing from the crown of the head, resembling that 

 of the plumed Poland fowls. 



To describe the domestic turkey is superfluous ; the 

 voice of the male ;_ the changing colors of the skin of 

 the head 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 dwell in the 

 country are conversant. 



RANGE AND DOMESTIC ACCOMMODATION. 



The adult turkey, it is well known, is extremely 

 hardy-j and bears the rigors of our coldest winters 

 with impunity even in the open air ; for, during the 

 severest weather, flocks, will . frequently roost at 

 night upon the roof of a barn, or the branches of tall 

 trees, preferring such an accommodation to an indoor 

 roost. The impatience of restraint and restlessness of 

 the turkey, render it unfit-company for fowls in their 

 dormitory ; in fact, the fowl house is altogether an 

 improper place for these large birds, which require 

 open sheds and high perches, and altogether as much 

 freedom as is consistent with their safety. 



Although, turkeys will roost even during the winter 

 months on trees, it is by no means recommended that 

 this should be allowed, as the feet of these birds are 



