180 MELEAGRIS GAELOPAVO. 
been found in all countries, but the turkey was peciJ’.f 
to ours. He is, besides, (though a little Vain and smB 
’tis true, but not the worse emblem for that,) a bird 8 
courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenad 1 ^ 
of the British guards, who should presume to inE ® 1 
his farm-yard with a red coat on.” , ^ 
But, since the choleric temper and canity of 
tame turkey are proverbial in various language®' ^ 
some of which its very name is opprobrious, and off*, 
applied in derision to vainglorious and stupid peOl’.j 
we are better satisfied that its efligy was not placed 1 
the escutcheon of the United States. . ,.| 
Those who have not observed the turkey in its i *’ 1 j, 
state, have only seen its deteriorated progeny, ndid 
are greatly inferior in size and beauty. So far f ,(l tf 
having gained by the care of man, and the abund^j 
of food accessible in its state of domestication, this h 1 , 
has degenerated not only in Europe and Asia, hot, " 
is certainly extraordinary, even in its native cotU' ,r -.| 
The domesticated turkey of America, accustomed #•' , 
is to roam in the woods and open fields almost with 0 ' ( 
restraint, is in no respect superior to that of j 
European poultry yard. I have, however, seen seV 1 1 , 
very beautiful ones from Lancaster county. Pen j 
vania, and Sussex countv, New Jersey, that were ' , | 
to be a cross breed bet ween the wild cock and ^ ( 
ben. This crossing often occurs in countries u 1 " „ 
wild and tame turkeys are found; it is well 
that, they will readily approach each other ; and ®' 1 1 
is the influence of slavery even upon the tn*»fp 
that the robust inhabitant of the forest will drive K 
degenerate kinsfolk from their own food, and fronUj'V 
females, being generally welcomed by the latter and ^ 
their owners, who well* know the advantages of ,ji 
connection. The produce of this commixture is 
esteemed by epicures, uniting the luscious obesiO'.^ 
the one, with the wild flavour of the other. A ^’"L 
man, residing in Westchester county. New York, 8 ^ 
years since procured a young female wild turkey* 
order to make the experiment of crossing the br ct 
