The Monticellonian., 1915-11-18

keys They are part of the Powhatans, and un der an old colonial treaty they pay no taxes ana have their own government. They must. now ever. send to the governor of Virginia each year a gift of game fowl: and very often this gift takes the form of several large plump turkeys.
 Many have been the explanations made as to how the bird so popular at Thanksgiving came to be called the turkey, most of which, to the true scientist, nothing but fancifui. one such is the explanation that it comes from the East Indian word "toka," which, in Hebrew. takes the form "tukki, the peacock. AS the Jews in South Europe were acquainted with this fowl which is related, it is assumed that they naturally applied the word to the turkey wherever 1t was introduced into Spain, and that thereafter it was called.
 Such roundabout way explanation, say those who know, is entirely unnecessary. The bird was called turkey because it supposed to come from Turkey where it was known as an Egyptian hen This, it is claimed, is merely in accordance with habit very general in the six teenth century. Whenever new and strange things presented to 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 Turkey.
 In France however. the bird was called din don," in the feminine dinde" as though it were the fowl dInde-from India. The Mexican
  claim indicates the old Aztec knowledge of the turkey.
 But whatever dispute has arisen to 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- dgenous to the West Indian islands it 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 and the Honduras, the ocellated varieties
 The Mexican turkey is found wild throughout the republic It is short in shank, with feathers it's body of metallic black shaded only slight ly with bronze, while all it's feathers tipped with white. This appears to be the species first taken to Spain and other European countries. It is thought that the white markings of the variety of domestic turkey known today as the Narragansett come from this species.
 The Honduras turkey today is scattered all most of Central America and is extremely wild It has freer flight than its cousins of the North. The head and neck of this bird naked. The ground color of the plumage is beautiful bronze green, banded with bold bronze, blue and red. with bands of brilliant black. This bird however, cannot be bred successfully domes ticated away from it's native habitat, while even there it hardly be successfully domesticated.
 The bronze turkey, that variety which today holds the place of honor in the North American group of turkeys, is outdone by none when 1t to beauty size
 In the United States there are six standard varieties recognized and grown. They are the bronze Narragansett, buff. slate, white and black The chief differences in size and color of plumage. 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 white variety has reached such point of popularity that it has increased in sze until with dealers it occupies third place.
 Whatever the turkey may have missed through failing to secure that place of honor suggested for it by Benjamin Frankn-as the national bird it has nevertheless found a place in the regard of the American people which is held by no other fowl.