1*26 TURKEY. 



skin is very dilatable, and much carunculated, especially round the 

 throat, where there are large tubercles ; from the forehead springs 

 an elongated, fleshy appendage, capable of great extension, so as 

 frequently to hang downwards over the bill, to some length ; the 

 colour of the tuberculated parts is various— white, red, or blue, 

 according to the quiescent, or irritated state in which the bird appears ; 

 as to the plumage, it for the most part inclines to black, in some 

 lights appearing of the most resplendent, gilded, copper-colour, in 

 others glossy green, here and there inclining to purple ; the greater 

 wing coverts are glossy brown ; quills green gold, growing black 

 towards the ends, and whitish at the tips ; the tail consists of 18 

 feathers, brown, mottled with black, the ends black ; the coverts 

 with whitish margins ; on the breast a tuft of black hairs, full eight 

 inches in length ; the legs very strong, with a short, stout, blunt 

 knob at the back part. 



The female is smaller ; the tuft of hairs much shorter than in the 

 male, in young birds scarcely perceivable ; and the legs quite smooth 

 behind. Such is the plumage of a bird in the usual high state of 

 black feathers in this kingdom. 



Although some have asserted the contrary, we have not a doubt 

 of the Turkey having originally been brought from America, and 

 they are said to be found largest in the northern parts of that Con- 

 tinent,* where they are met with by hundreds in a flock ; in the day 



* Fermin observes, that they weigh at Surinam, 25 lbs. Catesby speaks of 30 lbs. and 

 upwards, in Carolina; and others forty or more; and this General Davies has averred to me 

 to be true : but Clayton, in his account of Virginia, asserts, that they are met with there, 

 weighing 50, or even 60 pounds. — Phil. Trans, xviii. p. 992. They were introduced into 

 England, as is supposed, about the year 1524; it is certain, that the name does not occur 

 in the list of Archbishop Nevil's Feast : * nor is it mentioned in the Earl of Northumber- 

 land's Household Book, so late as 1512. The ancient Naturalists do not seem to have known 

 it; nor could it, in fact, be known before the discovery of America. Was first seen in 

 France in the reign of Francis I;f and in England in that of Henry VIII : J but even to 

 this day I cannot find it to be any where in a wild state, except in America. 



* Viz. before the year 1486. f He reigned from 1515 to 1547. t Not mentioned in the MS. 



relating to the Household of this King. See Areheol. Vol. iii. p. 257. 



