254 A DESCRIPTION OF 
but few people could now relish such food, as it is much 
coarser than the flesh of the turkey. The Italians have 
given this laconic description of the Peacock : " He has 
the plumage of an angel, the voice of a devil, and the 
stomach of a thief." 
THE TURKEY (Meleagris Gallo-Pavo,) 
Was originally an inhabitant of America, whence he was 
brought to Europe by some Jesuit missionaries, which ac- 
counts for his being called a Jesuit in some parts of the 
continent. Except the tuft on the head, which he does 
not share with the peacock, and his plumage, which is 
very different from that of the latter, he is like him in 
many particulars. The general colour of the feathers 
is brown and black ; and turkeyshave about the head, espe- 
cially the cock, naked and tuberous lumps of flesh of a 
bright red colour. A long fleshy appendage hangs from 
the base of the upper mandible, and seems to be length- 
ened and shortened at pleasure. The hen lays from fifteen 
to twenty eggs, which are whitish and freckled. The 
chickens are very tender, and require great care and at- 
tentive nursing, before they are able to seek their food. 
