20 
TURKEYS AND PHEASANTS. 
The male Wild Turkey weighs commonly from 15 to 18 
pounds, is not unfrequently as much as 25, and sometimes, 
according to Audubon, even 36. Ihe hen commonly weighs 
about 9 pounds, and the usual price for a Turkey from the 
Indians is 25 cents. The domestic bird, when irritated by the 
sight of any remarkable object, struts out with expanded tail, 
and drooping his stiffened wings, swells out his wattles, which 
become red and turgid, and advancing with a grave and 
haughty air, utters a humming sound, now and then accompa- 
nied by a harsh and dissonant ruk, orook, orook, repeating it 
at every whistle or unusual sound that strikes his ear. 1 he 
exhibition of a red rag is also sure to excite his wrath and 
induce him to rush with stupid temerity at the disagreeable 
object which he exerts himself to injure or destroy. A whole 
flock sometimes will unite in chasing a common cock from the 
poultry yard in consequence merely of some whimsical antip- 
athy. From these singular dislikes, this cowardice and folly, 
the Turkey bears in France the same proverbal imputation of 
stupidity which in England is bestowed on the Goose. The 
feathers of the wild bird, attached to strips of bass, were 
anciently employed by the aborigines for tippets and cloaks, 
and were so arranged that the brilliant surface formed the 
outside of the dress ; and in later times similar dresses have 
also been made by the Cherokees. 
The Turkey was first sent from Mexico to Spain in the six- 
teenth century, and in the reign of Henry VIII., in the year 
1524, it was introduced into England, and soon after into 
France and other portions of Europe. 
Since Nuttall wrote, this famous bird has become extinct in the 
New England States, as well as in Canada. Very early in colonial 
days it had disappeared from the Province of Quebec, for at the 
height of its abundance this bird was found only within a limited 
area along the valley of the Ottawa, in the vicinity of the Chaudifere 
Falls, — if 1 correctly interpret the words of Pierre Bouche, who 
was governor of the Province in 1663. By some chance several 
small flocks survived to a much later date in Ontario. Mcllwraith 
reports that it was numerous along the southern border as late as 
1856, and he thinks a few still remain. 
