WILD TURKEY. 251 
of domestication, this bird has degenerated, not only in Europe 
and Asia, but, what is certainly extraordinary, even in its 
native country. ‘The domesticated turkey of America, accus- 
tomed as it is to roam in the woods and open fields almost 
without restraint, is in no respect superior to that of the 
European poultry-yard. I have, however, seen several very 
beautiful ones from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and 
Sussex county, New Jersey, that were said to be a cross-breed 
between the wild cock and tame hen. ‘This crossing often 
occurs in countries where wild and tame turkeys are found ; 
it is well known that they will readily approach each other ; 
and such is the influence of slavery even upon the turkey, 
that the robust inhabitant of the forest will drive his degene- 
rate kinsfolk from their own food and from their females, 
being generally welcomed by the latter and by their owners, 
who well know the advantages of such a connection. The 
produce of this commixture is much esteemed by epicures, 
uniting the luscious obesity of the one with the wild flavour 
of the other. A gentleman residing in Westchester county, 
New York, a few years since, procured a young female wild 
turkey, in order to make the experiment of crossing the breed ; 
but, owing to some circumstance, it did not succeed, and in 
the ensuing spring this female disappeared. In the following 
autumn she returned, followed by a large brood ; these were 
quite shy, but, by a little management, they were secured in a 
coop, and the mother allowed her liberty. She remained on 
the farm until the succeeding spring, when she again dis- 
appeared, and returned in autumn with another brood. This 
course she has repeated for several successive years. 
Hegs of the wild turkey have been frequently taken from 
their nests, and hatched under the tame hen; the young pre- 
serve a portion of their uncivilised nature, and exhibit some 
knowledge of the difference between themselves and their 
foster-mother, roosting apart from the tame ones, and in other 
respects showing the force of hereditary disposition. The 
domesticated young, reared from the eggs of the wild turkey, 
