180 
MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO. 
been found in all countries, but the turkey was peculiar 
to ours. He is, besides, (though a little vain and silly, 
3 tis true, but not the worse emblem 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 turkey are proverbial in various languages, in 
some of which its very name is opprobrious, and often 
applied in derision to vainglorious and stupid people, 
we are better satisfied that its effigy 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 inferior 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 native country. 
The domesticated turkey of America, accustomed as it 
is to roam in the woods and open fields almost without 
restraint, is in no respect superior to that of the 
European poultry yard. I have, however, seen several 
very beautiful ones from Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and Sussex county, New Jersey, that were said 
to be a cross breed between the wild cock and tame 
hen. This crossing often occurs in countries where 
wild and tame turkeys are found ; it is well known 
that they will readily approach each other; and such 
is the influence of slavery even upon the turkey, 
that the robust inhabitant of the forest will drive his 
degenerate kinsfolk from their own food, and from their 
females, being generally welcomed by the latter and by 
their owners, who well know the advantages of such a 
connection. The produce of this commixture is much 
esteemed by epicures, uniting the luscious obesity of 
the one, with the wild flavour of the other. A gentle- 
man, residing in Westchester county, New York, a few 
years since procured a young female wild turkey, in 
order to make the experiment of crossing the breed ; 
