Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-11-27

keys They part of the Powhatans. and I'M
der an old colonial treaty they paw no taxes ana
have their own government. They must. now
ever, send to the governor of Virginia each year
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 now so popular at Thanksgiving
to be called the turkey. most of which, to
the true scientist nothing but fancifu 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 the turkey wherever it was
introduced into Spain, and that thereafter it was
so called.
Such roundabout way explanation, say those
who know, is entirely unnecessary. The bird
was called turkey because it supposed to
come Turkey, where it 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 were presented ignorant public.
knowledge spread slowly, but superstition was
deep, and hearsay 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 called din
DON" or in the feminine "dinde." though it
were the fowl d'Inde-from India. The Mexican
name for the bird is shuajoote,' which scientists
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
species, the original of the present turkey, in
dgenous to the 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
republic 1t is short shank with feathers
body of a 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.
1t is thought that the white markings of tho
variety of domestic turkey known today the
Narragansett come from this species.
The Honduras turkey today scattered all
most of Central America and is extremely
wild. 1t has freer flight than it's 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 brilliant black. This bird
however, cannot be bred successfully domes-
ticated away from its 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 youtdone by none when fr
to beauty size
In the United States there six standard
varieties recognized and grown. They are the
bronze, Narragansett. bun. slate. white and black
The chief differences are 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 has Increased
in size. 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 Franklin-as the national bird
it has nevertheless found place in the regard
of the American people which is held by no other
fowl.