178 ITS INTRODUCTION INTO ENGLAND. 
the date of the reigns of these monarchs, the first turkies 
must have been brought from Mexico, the conquest of 
which was completed A.D. 1521.” * 
“ These facts,” observes Mr. Blyth,f “ are generally 
known, but not the fact for which there is abundant 
evidence, that the domestic turkey was introduced from 
Europe into the North American colonies, where a 
kindred wild species abounded in the forest.” 
The origin of the English name turkey, as applied to 
a bird indigenous to America, has provoked much dis¬ 
cussion. The best explanation is that given by Mr. 
Blyth, in the work last quoted j :— 
“ It is certain,” he says, “ that the Guinea-fowl was 
commonly termed the Turkey-hen in former days, and 
hence a difficulty sometimes in knowing which bird is 
meant by sundry old authors. As the Portuguese dis¬ 
coveries along the west coast of Africa preceded those 
of the Spaniards in America, there is reason to infer that 
our British ancestors became acquainted with the guinea- 
fowl prior to their knowledge of the turkey; and the 
English trade being then chiefly with the Levantine 
countries, our ancestors may well have fancied that it 
came from thence. Referring to a curious old dictionary 
in my possession (published in 1678) for the word 
* It is observable, however, that in “The Privy Purse Expenses of King 
Henry VIII.” turkies are not once mentioned amongst the fowls to be provided 
for the table. 
f “Journal Asiatic Society, Bengal,” vol. xxix. p. 38. J Pp. 390, 391. 
