Leaflet No. 229. 2 
and faggot sci'eens may be temporarily erected to the wind- 
ward of the coops. Although this involves some tro'able, it 
enables the rearing to be conducted under healthier conditions 
than if sheds or buildings are used. A reasonable open air 
method of rearing is essential to health and soundness of 
constitution. 
Varieties. 
The American Bronze turkey most nearly resembles its 
wild progenitor, and good strains attain an average weight 
of about ;U) lb. in the cock birds and IG lb. in the hens. In 
appearance this breed is very handsome, the neck, breast and 
back being black, shaded with a glistening bronze. The 
under parts are less richly coloured. The wings are black, 
barred with white or grey and edged with white, the wing 
bow having a greenish or brownish lustre. The tail is black 
with brown pencilling, and the coverts grey, shading into 
black and ending in a brown band. The face, ear lobes 
and wattles are a rich red, and the legs long and dark 
in colour. 
The old English variety of the eastern counties was the 
Norfolk Black, but many now prefer the Cambridge Bronze, 
which is a cross." The plumage of the former is black, with 
some white spots, and that of the latter a bronze grey, 
although there is a considerable variation in different strains. 
The White turkey is now much more commonly seen than 
was the case a few years ago, breeders having to some extent 
overcome the popular prejudice against white plumage, 
believed to imply delicacy of constitution. White tiirkeys 
are relatively small in size. A very useful cross may, how- 
ever, be made by running a bronze male of medium size 
with white hens. The young birds are curiously speckled in 
appearance, but have been found hardy, and comparatively 
easy to rear, attaining a useful marketable size where excep- 
tional weight is not required. 
Housing. 
The natural instinct of adult turkeys is to roost in trees, 
but this is not always permissible in a country in which foxes 
are more or less plentiful. Delicacy and disease, however, 
are the direct result of badly ventilated or overheated 
sleeping quarters, and a special form of house is necessary 
for the proper accommodation of turkeys. Although some 
special features are essential the construction of a suitable 
house is really very simple. In common with all forms of 
fowl houses the floor should be dry and the building rainproof 
and free from draughts. The roof should, if possible, be 
thatched. The arrangement of the perches is important ; 
they should be broad, but not too broad for the birds to grip, 
and must run from end to end of the building. 
