ESSAY I. 



WHETHER THE TURKEY WAS KNOWN 

 BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 



THE earlier writers on ornithology, asBelon, Ray, and Wil- 

 loughby, had fuppofed that the turkey was introduced into 

 Europe from Alia: M. de Buffbn, however, (with other great 

 authorities) hath lately maintained, that we owe this bird to 

 America ; and, as he hath more fully entered into the difcuflion 

 of this point than any other writer, I mall principally confider 

 the reafons by which this mod able naturalift fupports what he 

 hath contended for. 



Having taken fame pains on this fubjecT:, by examining mofl 

 of the authorities which can afford any light, I fhall, without 

 hefkation, fay, that I rather conceive this bird was never indite- 

 nous in the neighbourhood of Mexico 3 : though I do not mean 

 to affert this with any degree of pofitivenefs ; but I am tho- 

 roughly convinced, that, whether turkies were found in America 

 by the firft difcoverers or not, the Europeans are chiefly in- 

 debted to Afia, and perhaps Africa, for this valuable addition to 

 our tables. 



a As for Virginia, I admit turkies to have been found in a wild ftate 

 on that coaft by the firft fettlers in 1584. Hakluyt,, Ft. III. p. 274. 

 The v;ft d ; ftance, however, between Virginia and Mexico is well known; 

 and thefe birds were called turkies in England thirty years before the 

 difcovery of Virginia* 



M. de 



