Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-12-20
FIIRKEY FIGURES
 ! IN MANY LEGENDS
Result of Explorations Show
 It Is a Bird of Great Antiquity.
hNE CONCERNS FLOOD
rarkey Was Eaten in France as Far Rack at 159O, at the Wedding of Charles TX.-BOnes in Cave Dwellings.

Washington, Dec. 19.-Recent sci.
 ntihc expeditions in Arizona have re-
 ulted in the discovery of a mummi-
 d turkey. The specimen, now on
 Yhibition at the National museum, is
 m example of a species known tb
 ave been abundant several hundred
 ears ago in that region. Practically
 very cave dwelling investigated had bones of turkeys in it, but this speci- per was the only one found intact.
 On another,< expedition to Arizona br. C. Hart Merriam of the Smithson- an institution encountered a living pecies of bird identical to the num- mded remains found buried there, md which is now known by his name.
 Yet another interesting discovery is
 Maya hieroglyphic. This bit of an- ient writing, done On parchment, is
 grocer's bill, and among other arti- les sold it shows five turkey cocks nd ten turkey hens. This is thought be the first record of the turkey in |his country, antedating the expedi- lion of Cortez' conquest of Mexico.
 A Flood Legend.
 Scientists have proven, however, hat among the Indians the turkey kas known even before that date. emong the Zunis many legends ex- sted, one of which, dealing with the turkey, is of particular interest on ac- kount of it's similarity to the Bible tory of the flood.
 Once upon d time, so the legend uns there was flood which cover- d the. face of the earth with water. Ilso there was a turkey, which after Eearily flying about for days without Ind, determined to find dry spot on which to alight and rest. But the other creatures of the earth and air warned him not to, and even the high gods themselves forbade it. But he turkey paid heed neither to the birds nor the gods, but flew until he ound one spot not covered with wa Ter. On this he alighted, only to find { deep mud. So he decided to hunt Further, but found when he tried to rise that his tail feathers stuck fast in he mud He pulled and pulled and |hnally freed himself, but the mud still |held. And to this day the tail feath- Iers of turkeys are deep brown, a hign of the disobedience of the first turkey to the gods.
 So prominent has the turkey been lin the earliest known history of this country that Benjamin Franklin want |ed it made the national bird, instead |of the eagle.
 Cortez Regaled with Turkey. Enrope's present appreciation of |the turkey as an edible is due to the |early adventurers who visited this [country. When Cortez in 1519 ascend Fed the plateaus of Mexico he was reg |ally entertained. All the choicest del |icacies obtainable were placed before |a1m, and though game was abundant [h was the turkey which held first place This, it is claimed, was the Earst time the meat of the turkey had ever been tasted by the Spaniards So enjoyable did this experience prove that turkeys were later sent back nome as trophies of the chase. English explorers followed this custom witf the result that today the turkey is nown in practically every civilized land. 7
 Scientists have proven to their sat slaction that the present universa use of the turkey as food was entirel! que to this method of introduction ana in no wise to the turkey itself SLOW of movement, and deliberate Doth in beginning flight and in thu caolce of it's alighting, it would un alded never have been known beyond us native habitat, they claim.
 Ine first turkey eaten in France al .ar as can be learned, was at the wed 'ahg of Charles TX. and Elizabeth o austria on June 27, 1890, fully half century after the bird had been intro yuced into Spain by Cortez. This tur aey came from somewhere in th' american wilderness.'
 me turkey which is eaten durin, ne holidays today is not identical witl M1 species originally indigenous t america. And, strangely enough, it i
 cross between the original species .uu descendants of those birds sen England and bred and later sen l" New England.
 k. Origin of the Name.
 Not the least of the problem anlcn scientists have had to solve il ss.nng into the history of the turke wny 1t is called by that name. Man s.p.isnations have been given. but all s;s ;ssGroing to scientists. are purely fan u. Ono such explanation is tha
 " word comes from the East 1ndial su su toka." which in Hebrew (tuk N means peacock. Tho Hebrew
 NY acquainted with the peacock
 Y F claimed that when they sav turkey they gave it the sam
 Vsners claim that 1t is called tur