The Arvada enterprise., 1915-11-18

Keys. They are part of the Powhatans and un'
der an old colonial treaty they pay no taxes and
have their own government They must. how
ever, send to the governor of Virginia each year
a gift of game fowl; and very often this gilt
takes the form OF several large. plump turkeys.
Many have been the explanations made as 10
how the bird now so popular at Thanksgiving
came to be called the turkey. most OF which 10
the true scientist, are nothing but fanciful One
such is the explanation that it comes from tn"
East Indian word "toka," which, in Hebrew. takes
the form "tukki.' the peacock. AS the Jews IN
South Europe were acquainted with this towl.
which is related 1t is assumed that they naturally
applied the word to the turkey wherever 1t was
introduced INTO SPAIN and that thereafter 1t was
so called
Such roundabout way explanation say those
who know is entirely unnecessary. The bird
was called turkey because 1t was supposed TO
come from Turkey. where 1t was known as an
Egyptian hen. This, it is claimed. is merely In
accordance with a habit very general in the six.
teenth century. Whenever new and strange
things we're presented to an ignorant public
knowledge spread slowly but superstition was
deep, and hearsay was taken for truth. The mar
kets OF North Europe received this fowl as com
ing from South Europe. directly or indirectly
from Turke-.
In France however the bird was called din
don" or in the feminine "dinde' though 1t
were the fowl dlnde-irom India The Mexican
name for the bird is "huajolote" which scientists
claim indicates the old Aztec knowledge OF the
turkey
But whatever dispute has arisen as the
name of the turkey, the fact yet remains that the
turkey is indigenous to America Although
scientists believe It is possible that there was a
species. the original of the present turkey in
digenous to the West Indian islands II is generally
conceded that all turkeys have descended In some
way or other from the three forms known today
as the North American. the Mexican ana the
Honduras. the ocolated varieties
The Mexican turkey is found wild throughout
the republic. 1t is short in shank. with feathers
on its body of u metallic black shaded only slight
ly with bronze, while all its feathers tipped
with white. This appears to be the species first
taken to Spain and other European countries
II is thought that the white markings OF the
variety OF domestic turkey known today as the
Narraransett come from this species
The Honduras turkey today is scattered all
over most OF Central America aud If extremely
wild. It has frecr flight than it's cousins OF the
North. Tho head and neck OF this bird are naked
The ground color OF the plumago is n beautiful
bronze green. banded with bold bronze. blue and
red, with bands OF brilliant black. This bird
however, cannot be bred successfully nor domes
ticatcd away from it's native habitat. while even
there 1t hardly be successfully dom.s,cat.d
The bronze turkey. that variety which today
holds the place OF honor In the North American
group OF turkeys. Is ou,dono by mono when Il
comes tcnuty or size.
In the United States there are six standard
varieties recognized and grown. They are tn.
bronze Narragansott. bun slate. white and black
The chief differences are In size and color OF
plumagc. The bronze and Narragunsctt are the
largest. the bun and slate medium. while tho
white and black are the smallest Within late
years, however. the white variety has reached
such point OF popularity that II has Increased
in size until with some dealers It occupies third
place
Whatever the turkey may have missed through
failing TO secure tha, place OF honor suggested
for II by BENJAMIN Franklln-ss the national bird
1T has nevertheless found place In the regard
OF the American people which Is held by no other
fowl.