THE TURKEY HISTORIC 83 



it may be acclimatized in the forests. Their 

 numerous enemies have thus far prevented suc- 

 cess in this direction, but they have done reason- 

 ably well in domestication, and Captain Rodgers 

 of the United States Coast Survey has met with 

 remarkable success in hybridizing them with the 

 domestic bronze turkey. Last spring I sent 

 some which were placed on Santa Clara Island, 

 off Santa Barbara. They remained contentedly 

 about the ranch building and, as I am informed 3 

 raised three broods of young which are doing 

 well. As there is nothing on the island more 

 dangerous to them than a very small species of 

 fox, we may well hope that they will in a few 

 years stock the whole island, which is many 

 miles in extent. As the island is uninhabited 

 except by the shepherds who tend the immense 

 flocks of sheep there, they will soon revert to the 

 wild state, when I have no doubt they will re- 

 sume markings as constant as is observed in the 

 wild bird here, but I shall be disappointed if the 

 changed condition of life does not produce a 

 change of color or in the shades of color, which 

 would induce one unacquainted with their his- 



