Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1885-09-04
Talk About Turkeys.

The Troy Times has this to say
about turkeys: In all the ancient writ
ings there is no mention made OF this
pompous creature. Many suppose
from It's name that the turkey originat-
ed in the east.
Not only does the English name
give support to this belief, but the
French name dind0n, contraction of
discard Inde (bird oflndia) show that
the same Is held in Europe. The first
writer who mentions the American
turkey is believed to be Ovledo, in
1925, who describes them under the
name of peacocks. and speaks of their
excellence as an article of food. When
fernando Cortez subdued the Mexi-
cans in 1921, the turkey was round in
a domesticated state. and it probably
had been reared there centuries before
hat time.
Domestic turkeys were introduced
into England from America in 1925
and Chamberlain gives an account of
their being served at banquet in 1855.
The same authority adds that twenty
years later they became sufficiently
abundant to afford the farmer his
Christmas dinner. Germany seems to
have had turkeys introduced, probably
from Spain or France, as early as
1880.
The wild turkey of the United states
the largest of the galliuaceous birds,
now rare on the Atlantic coast, but
still found in large locks in the regions
farther west, is about three and hall
feet in length, being somewhat larger
than the domestic variety. The gen.
eral color of the plumage is black, va
riegated with bronze..and..br bright glossy
green, and in some parts changing
purple, Tame turkeys, like every
other animal In a state of domestica-
ton, vary considerable IN color, but
the prevailing one is dark gray, In
clin;ng to black. The females lay their
eggs In spring, in a retired and OBJ
scure place, as the unprincipled male
often breaks them; the female sits
with SO much perseverance that fresh
eggs be introduced into the nest I'M
medtately upon the young being
Matched, she will long continue the
business of incubation.
A second species of the turkey, in
Central America, is termed the occel-
lated turkey. Birds of this species are
taller and more erect than the common
turkey, with a much more brilliant
plumage, marked with the iridescent,
peacock like eyes, the legs being punk.
and the head OF a peculiar soft, clear
gray blue. crested with clear, bright
orange warts.
The brush turkey, a singular and
anomalous bird of New South Wales,
Australia, does not hatch its OWE eggs,
but employs for The purpose similar
means to those now IN use for artificial
incubation. For weeks prior to lay
ing, it collects an immense mass of
vegetable matter varying from two to
four cart loads with which 1t forms a
pyramidal heap; in this it places its
eggs, about eighteen inches deep and
from: nine to twelve inches apart. The
eggs, which are always placed with the
large end upward, being carefully COW
cred, are then lett to hatch by the heat
engendered by the decomposition of
the surrounding matter. The heaps
are formed by the labor of several
pairs of birds. The bush turkey IS
eagerly sought after by the inhabitants
OF Australia for Christmas dinner; the
flesh is ola pure salmon colo.. juicy,
tender and highly pleasing to the
taste.