WILD TURKEY. 
353 
when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bear- 
ing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, 
the* bald eagle pursues him, and takes it from him. With 
all this injustice, he is never in good case, but, like those 
among’ men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally 
poor, and often very lousy. Besides, he is a rank coward ; the 
little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him boldly, 
and drives him out of the district. He is, therefore, by no 
means, a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati 
of America, who have driven all the Kingbirds from our coun- 
try, though exactly fit for that order of knights which the 
French call Chevaliers Industrie, I am, on this account, not 
displeased that the figure is not known as a bald eagle, but 
looks more like a turkey. For in truth the turkey is, in com- 
parison, a much more respectable bird, and withal, a true ori- 
ginal native of America. Eagles have been found in all coun- 
tries, but the turkey was peculiar to ours. He is, besides, 
(though a little vain and silly, ’tis true, but not the worse em- 
blem for that,) a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to 
attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume 
to invade his farm- yard with a red coat on.” 
But, since the choleric temper and vanity of the tame tur- 
key are proverbial in various languages, in some of which its 
very name is opprobrious, and often applied in derision to vain- 
glorious and stupid people, we are better satisfied that its efiigy 
was not placed in the escutcheon of the United States. 
Those who have not observed the turkey in its wild state, 
have only seen its deteriorated progeny, which are greatly in- 
ferior in size and beauty. So far from having gained by the 
care of man, and the abundance of food accessible in its state 
of domestication, this bird has degenerated not only in Europe 
and Asia, but, what is certainly extraordinary, even in its na- 
tive country. The domesticated turkey of America, accus- 
tomed as it is to roam in the woods and open fields almost with- 
out restraint, is in no respect superior to that of the European 
poultry-yard. I have, however, seen several very beautiful 
VOL. III. 
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