Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-23

is "husjoIote." which. scientists claim.
indicates the old Aztec knowledge of
the turkey.
But whatever dispute has arisen as to
the name OF the turkey, the fact vet re-
mains that the turkey is indigenous 10
America. Although scientists believe
IL Is possible that there was species.
the original of the present turkey, In
digenous TO the West India Islands. Il in
generally conceded that all turkeys have
the three forms known today as the
North American. the Mexican and the
Honduras, the ocellated varieties.
The Mexican turkey is found wild
throughout the republic II IS short IN
shank. with feathers on its body OF a
metallic black shaded only slightly with
bronze. while all its feathers are tipped
with white. This appears TO be the
species first taken to Spain and other
European countries. IN is thought that
domestic turkey known today as th6
Narragansett come from this species.
The Honduras turkey today is scatter
cd all over most OF Central America and
is extremely wild. IL has freer flight
than its cousins OF the north. The head
and neck OF this bird are naked. The
ground color OF the plumage IS a beau
tiful bronze green. banded with bold
bronze. blue and red. with bands OF bril-
liant black. This bird. however, cannot
be bred successfully nor domesticated
away from fits native habitat, while even
there IL can hardly be successfully
domesticated
The bronze turkey. that variety which
today holds the place of honor in the
North American group of turkeys. is out
done by none when IL comes to beauty or
size. Black. beautifully shaded with a
rich bronze. the breast plumage being
dark bronze. Illuminated with a lustrous
finish of coppery gold. gives full warrant
for the name by which this bird is known
The bronze tint emblazons the plumage
with distinctive brightness. and I'm the
rays of the sun the FURNISHED appearance
comes out with striking brilliancy
The full-groWn. healthy bird is beau
tiful picture of bronze. black copper and
gold, and sometimes weighs forty or
more pounds. Other varieties known I'm
the barnyard, and even recognized among
dealers as having distinctive markings.
are i'm reality only highly developed fowls
with preserved peculiarities Under this
classification comes the white turkey
In the United States there are six
standard varieties recognized and grown
These are the bronze Narragansett, buff,
slate. white and black. The chief DIFF
ferenceS are in size and color of plumaye
The bronze and Narragansett are the
largest. the buff and slate medium. while
the white and black are the smallest
within late years. however the whita
variety has reached such "A point Of
popularity that IL has increased in size
until with some dealers il occupies third
place.
Whatever the turkey may have missed
through failing to secure that place of
honor suggested for il by BENJAMIN
Franklin-as the national bird-it has
nevertheless found place in the regard
of the American people which is held by
no other fowl.
Time was when a turkey, or as many
as could be carried might be had for the
seeking Then came the period when 30
cents would buy plump young fowl.
But as with everything else edible, those
were the days when markets were fewer
and individual vendors more plentiful
Even SO short time ten years ago
turkeys could be purchased for from 8
TO - cents pound. dressed.
Some interesting figures were at one
time compiled by the Department of
Agriculture in connection with the tur-
Key. In 1876 the census showed the
turkey population i'm the United States
TO be l2Uo.VO -Four years later the de-
partment found there We're but 6.JOo 600.
Such a discrepancy needed investigation
1t was made. and the answer was soon
forthcoming.
In the 1895 census breeders had liter.
ally counted their eggs before they were
Matched, and the consequent total in
Guided all poults. eggs In the nest and
birds expected, as Well as the grown
turkeys With the latter figure Only
birds of three months or more were in
Guided. That figure, therefore. is the
true estimate of the average annual
turkey supply at that time. while today
the supply has increased with the rising
demand each year
But even with the increase that has
come with the passing years. the supply
is not sufficient or the price low enough
Tor every person in this country to in
clude it in the list of Thanksgiving fea-
lures. And SO the picture which Gray
painted cannot hold true. He wrote:
Prom the low peasant to the lord, the
turkey smokes on every board