The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-10-10

| worm S3neTEcGn fIeU1etO.
The author dwells at much length on
the description of the Wild Turkey. He
asserts manfully the original claim of
America to this bird. The first certain
account of it, he says, was written in 1896
by Oviedo, in his History of the West
Indies. 1t was sent from Mexico to Spain,
In the early part of the sixteenth century
and thence to England about the year
1924. By degrees it spread over Europe
and within century was introduced in
Asia, Africa, and the European colonies.
The. origin of the English name, I1Irkey,
as applied to this bird, is little singular.
1t was brought to England at time when.
1t was customary to denote articles of lux
ury from foreign countries by this appella-
ton, and as this bird was delicacy of
novel and rare occurrence, it took the same
name. This error was perpetuated from
| the circumstance of its being supposed to
have come thro' Spain, from Asia or Africa.
Some naturallsts represented it as having
been known to the ancients, but thew
contounded it with the Guinea Fowl The
Turkey IS IN fact Indigenous to America.
and was stranger to the old world till
| after the discoveries of Columbus. Mr..
| Bonaparte has given list of twenty
names, by which it has been called among
different tribes of Indians. From the auth
or's full description of this bird, we shall
select two or three paragraphs, in which
are exhibited some of its habits.
When about to cross river, they select
the highest emluences, that their fight
may be the more certain and here they
sometimes remain for a day or more, as if
Ter the purpose of consultation, or to be
duly prepared for so hazardous voyage.
During this time the males gobhle obstrep-
erously, and strut with extraordinary i'm
portance, as if they would animate their
companions, and inspire them with the ut
most degree of hardwood; the females and
young also assume much of the pompous
air of the males, the former spreading
their tails and moving silently around At
length the assembled multitude mount the
tops of the highest trees, whence, at a sig
nal note from a leader, the whole together
wing their way towards the onrc.;:.... s,o-s
All the old and fat ones cross without diff
ficulty, even when the river exceeds A
mile IN width but the young, meapre, and
weak, frequently fall short of the desired
landing, and are forced to swim for their
! lives. This they do dexterously enopGb,
spreading their tails for a support. closinG
! their wings to the body, stretching their
neck forwards, and striking out quickly
and forcibly with their legs If in thus
endeavOrlng to gain the land, thew ap-
proach an elevated or inaccessible bank.
their exertions are RENTED, they resign
themselves to the stream for a short time,
IN order to gam strength, and then with
one violent effort escape from the water,
But IN this attempt all are not successful :;
some of the weaker, as they cannot rise
sufficiently high in air to clear the bank,
fall again and again into the water, and
thus mlserably perish. Immediately after
! these birds have succeeded in crossing a
river, they for some time ramble about
without any apparent unanimity of purpose.
and great many are DESTROYED bv the
hunters, although they are then least val
liable.
"These birds are guardians OF each
other, and the first who sees a hawk or
| eagle gives a note of alarm, on which all
| within hearing lie close to the ground As
/ they usually roost in focks, perched on the
naked branches of trees, they are easily
! discovered by the large owls, and when
attacked by these prowling birds, often
escape by somewhat remarkable maneu-
vre. The owl sails around the spot to se-
| lect his prey; but Notwithstanding the al
most lnaudible action of his pinions, the
/ quick ear of one of the slumberers per
ceiyes the danger, which is immediately
announced to the whole party by chaek j;
! thus alarmed, they rise on their legs, and
watch the motions of the owl, who dartiuss
like an arrow, would inevitably secure the
individual at which he aimed, did not the
latter suddenly drop his head, squat, and
spread his tail over his back; the owl then
chances over without INJECTING any injury.
at the very instant the turkey suffers him-
self to fall headlong towards the earth.
where he is secure fromhis dreaded enemyj'
! THE TAILoR's DREAM. A tailor who
was dangerously i'll, had remarkable
dream. lie saw fluttering in the air, u
piece OF cloth of pIodigious length, compos-
ed OF all the cabbage he had made of a va
riety of colors. The angel of death held
this piece of patch work in one of his hands
and with the other gave the tailor several
strokes with piece of iron. The tailor a.
Weakening in a fright, made VOW that if
he recovered he would cabbage no more,
lie soon recovered. AS he was difident of
himself he ordered one of his apprentices
to put him in mind of his dream whenever
ne cut out a suit of clothes. He was for
some time obedient to the instructions giv-
en- him by his apprentice, but gentleman
having sent for him to make a coat out of a
very rich stuff, his visture could not resist
the temptation. His apprentice put him in
mind of his dream, to no purpose. 81 am
tired with your DREAM" says the tailor,
there was nothing like this in the whole
piece of patch work, saw in my dream,
and observed likewise, that there was a
piece defcient,-that which am now go>
ing to take viii render it complete"
ScALDs AND BURNS. The following re-
) ceipe will be found singularly eficacioSs in
cases of scalds and burns, ifapplied in time,
and will even remove inflammation after it