Morning journal and courier., 1882-11-29


ing received two pairs of turkeys from Canada
had them set at large in the forest near In
veraray Castle, the intention being to let
them have a fair chance of settling down, and
possibly of replenishing the sylvan glades
with big game bird for purposes of sports
as in the far West. The experiment has al
ready been tried with success in other parts
of Britain; at least SO far as regards the
mere importing and multiplying of the
species. In the royal parks of Windsor and
Richmond several thousands of these noble
''roosters'' were known to make themselves
quite at home, while they were also to be
seen and beard within the Duke of Buc-
cleach's preserves, and even more recently In
Argyllshire itself on the estate of Poltalloch
But in these cases they were still in more
or less domesticated state. For some time
after the Canadian birds were uncooped at
Inveraray little or nothing was remarked of
them, though they were occasionally seen in
the woods. They did not however, seem to
increase in number, and for a while the sub
ect fell out of notice. About five years ago
that is, in the spring of 1S77-Mr. Thorn
son, head game-keeper to the Duke of Argyll,
found three of them, a cock and two hens,
also a nest of dozen eggs, which he i'm
pounded for breeding purposes among his
pheasant coeps. In the course of a season
or two some progress was made in giving the
stock fresh start. When turned out the
young birds were after time encouraged to
forage" for themselves, which they were
not slow to do, the woods and pasture lands
affording them ample pickings. In this re-
spect they do not appear to be very particu-
lar, wild berries acorns, grass, beetles, tad
poles and the like being their usual diet.
During the winter months they received a
little attention in the way of feeding some
Indian corn, &C., being laid down for them
but at other times they were left to their
own devices, and SO much have they thriven
under this regimen that they are now counted
, n al ha
also be observed at certain hours feeding in
large hocks on the grassy slopes. One of the
chief objects kept in view has been to pre-
vent, if possible, the birds passing into
tame state. What the probabilities on this
point are, it may be difficult to say Can
they be kept in state of nature, as in the
primitive forests? Or will they, as in the
case of the first wild turkeys brought to
Europe from the American continent, and
in more recent cases, eventually acquire by
force of circumstances the tameness Of domes-
tic fowls? Or, finally, if not allowed to do
SO, will they succumb to adverse conditions,
and the colony become extinct. When the
wild turkey was first introduced from the
new world-some time in the sixteenth GEN.
fury, as we are told-it may safely be assumed
that it was done expressly with view to
donestication. In the present instance it is
not so and as to the result thus far it is
true large number show at times decided
preference for the vicinity of the gamekeep-
er s poultry-yard and Its special supplies,
but then the same thing is observed at GER
tain seasons among the wild turkeys of the
American forest, as the outlying settlers
know full we'll In other respects their in
stincts and habits are exactly those of the
aboriginal race. Tame they certainly are
not. For as the nesting season approaches
the hen takes to the innermost recesses of
the forest, and then, like the pheasant,
(another importation, by the bye, makes her
nest on the ground among the thick under
growth or brushwood. In due time she re-
appears in the open with her diminutive
! progeny, the latter some II or Is in number.
Both she and they are exceedingly shy. On
the approach of anyone they run or fly Off
at great rate into the thicket, just now
Got 81 some of them may be seen in remote
| corners of the forest with apparently their
second broods for the year. In general ap-
pear ance and size these birds exactly
like the common domestic turkey, only the
legs are somewhat bare and of more reddish
| flesh color. They active on the wing,
and sometimes take long flights. if alarmed
by shot they fly with great vigor, lighting
keeper shot some last autumn for table use
at the castle. One fine "gobbler" weighed
upward of Is pounds. The flesh is of delici-
| shade tougher than that of their barnyard
| congeners. 1t will thus be seen that some
| progress has been made in the acclimatiza-
,tion of these splendid birds, yet on the whole
it is probably not to be expected that in the
Highlands of Scotland the day will come, at
least soon, when wild turkeys will be objects
| of sport for the rideman in the backwoods
| of America.
| Rut y.