THE TURKEY. 
153 
the Turkey. , I the domestic turkey hen, if her nest be placed 
The domestic turkejf can scarcely be said to (and it might in a certain degree,) as it is in na- 
be divided, like the common fowl, into distinct ! ture ; this we know, that turkeys which have 
breeds ; although there is considerable variation laid their eggs in out-of-the-way places, and 
in color, as well as in size, but no Bantam, or I have been allowed to incubate there, have 
dwarf race, exists, unless we except the small, ; brought their troop of downy younglings into 
delicate-fleshed turkeys of Hempstead Plains, l the farmyard with evident pleasure and satisfac- 
near New York, which often weigh, whenjtion — no extra attention having been paid to 
dressed, not more than 4 or 5 lbs. The finest them. It is usual, however, in Europe and the 
and strongest birds are those of a bronzed black, : northern parts of the United States, to remove 
resembling, as closely as possible, the original i the young chicks, one by one, as they make 
stock. These are not only reared the most : their exit, and place them in a basket of warm 
easily, but are generally the largest, and fatten 1 flannel, tow, or feathers, until all are out and 
the most rapidly. Some turkeys are of a cop- j then restore them to the hen ; this is done as a 
pery tint, some of a delicate fawn-color, while : precautionary measure, lest any accident should 
others are parti-colored, grey, and white, and ; happen to them, 
some few of a pure 
snow-white. All 
of the latter are 
regarded as infe- 
rior to the black, 
their color indicat- 
ing something like 
degeneracy of con- 
stitution, if not ac- 
tual disease. A va- 
riety is said to 
exist in the aviary 
of Madam Backer, 
at the Hague, with 
a topknot spring- 
ing from the crown 
of the head, re- 
sembling that of 
the plumed Poland 
fowls. 
Incubation. — The 
turkey hen is a 
steady sitter, and 
in this respect re- 
sembles the wild 
bird — nothing will 
induce her to leave 
the nest; indeed, 
she often requires 
to be removed to 
her food, so over- 
powering is her 
instinctive affec- 
tion ; she must be 
well supplied with 
water within her 
reach ; should she The Domestic Turkey. — Fig. 48. 
lay any eggs after she has commenced incuba- 1 In a state of nature, the turkey only rears one 
tion, these should be removed — it is proper, I brood during the season, unless her eggs have 
therefore, to mark those which were given to | been destroyed or removed, nor will the domes- 
her to sit upon. The hen should on no account j tic hen incubate twice, if allowed to rear her 
be rashly disturbed ; no one except the person ! own brood ; some, however, which like, as the 
to whom she is accustomed, and from whom she | common phrase is, " to work a free horse to 
receives her food, should be allowed to go near J death," recommend that the turkey be induced 
her, and the eggs, unless circumstances impera- j to hatch a second time in the season. This is 
tively require it, should not be meddled with. effected by taking her young brood from her as 
On or about the thirty-first day, the chicks ! soon as possible, and mixing it with another 
leave the eggs. Now, in a state of nature, the j brood of the same age, as nearly as may be; 
wild hen always manages far better than she her cares being no longer required for her 
would do if interfered with by man, were his ; young, and her instincts unsatisfied ; she seeks 
interference possible, and so we believe with the company of the male, and in about three 
