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WILD TURKEY. 
This bird was sent from Mexico to Spain early in the sixteenth 
century; from Spain it was introduced into England in 1524. 
Turkeys were taken to France in the reign of Francis the First, 
whence they spread into Germany, Italy, <fcc.; a few, however, had 
been carried to the latter country, by the Spaniards, some years 
previously. The first Turkey eaten in France, appears to have 
been served up at the wedding banquet of Charles the Ninth, in 
the year 1570. Since that period, they have been bred with so 
much care, that in England, as we read in ancient chronicles, their 
rapid increase rendered them attainable at country feasts, where 
they were a much esteemed dish, as early as 1585. Europeans 
conveyed them to all their colonies, and thus were they gradually 
introduced into Asia, Africa, and even Oceanica. 
The French distinguished them by the name of Coq et Poule 
d’lnde, (Cock and Hen from India,) because they were natives of 
the West Indies; subsequently, for the sake of brevity, they called 
them Dindon , an appellation which is yet retained. The English 
name is still worse, as it conveys the false idea that the Turkey 
originated in Asia, owing to the ridiculous habit, formerly prevalent, 
of calling every foreign object by the name of Turk, Indian, &c. 
Although the Turkey is generally considered a stupid bird, it 
is probable that his intellectual qualifications have not been fairly 
appreciated, as he is susceptible of very lively emotions. If any 
new and remarkable object attracts the attention of the male, his 
whole appearance and demeanour undergo a sudden and extraor¬ 
dinary change: relinquishing his peaceful aspect, he boldly raises 
himself, his head and neck become turgid, and the wattles, from an 
influx of blood, glow with vivid red; he bristles up the feathers of 
the neck and back, his tail is vertically raised and expanded like a 
fan, and the wing feathers are extended until they touch the ground. 
Thus transformed, he utters a low, humming sound, and advances 
with a grave and haughty strut, occasionally accelerating his steps, 
and, at the same time, rubbing the tips of the primary feathers 
