1887] The Origin of a Small Race of Turkeys. 353 
This is undoubtedly a case of pretty close inbreeding, the 
entire stock having descended from one male and four female 
ancestors. While I do not consider it conclusively established by 
"any means that this deterioration in size should be attributed 
solely to inbreeding, it is not unlikely that this cause may have 
had its influence; nor am I prepared to assign any other satis- 
factory cause for this remarkable result, Although the native 
wild turkey was never found on the west side of the Colorado, 
while it was abundant in Arizona, not far east of that river, there 
would seem to be nothing in the condition of this country es- 
pecially detrimental to their well-being here. The wild turkey 
which I have introduced in various places on the mainland north 
of San Francisco are reported to have done well. They are said 
to be prolific and healthy and to attain their normal size; and 
the domestic turkey, which is found all over the State, is said 
to do fairly well, although upon the table they are not as much 
admired as those raised in the Eastern States, nor are they in 
general as large or as fat. 
o epidemic has been observed among the turkeys on 
Santa Cruz Island; but, on the contrary, they seem to have been 
always healthy and vigorous. Their habit of flight as repre- 
sented to me is about the same as that observed of the Eastern 
wild birds in their native haunts. The flesh of these small birds 
is said to be good. 
I have been thus particular in my account of the introduction 
of the wild turkey upon the island of Santa Cruz because I think 
it entitled to some weight at least in the investigation of the 
question which I have suggested. 
It may be impossible to obtain facts which can throw much 
light upon the effects of inbreeding among wild animals in their 
unrestrained condition, especially those of monogamic or pro- 
miscuous habits, which is the case with most wild animals. 
Among quadrupeds where two are usually produced at a birth, 
so far as observed, the twins are usually male and female, and 
most probably they continue together in close intimacy till they 
attain a reproductive age; and here we might reasonably expect 
that inbreeding would very often occur, and yet there may be 
conditions which would disappoint this expectation, such as, for 
instance, the older males in the forest driving off the younger. 
In the case of quadrupeds where several are produced at a birth, 
