The Raymer 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 or fowl and very often this git
takes the form of several large. plump turkeys,
Many have been the explanations made as TO
how the bird now popular at Thanksgiving
came to he called the turkey. most OF which, to
the true scientist nothing but 'anciful. One
such Is the explanation that 1t 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 It 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 1t is claimed. is merely In
accordance with a habit very general In the six.
teenth century. Whenever and strange
things were 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 Indirectly
from Turkey.
In France however the bird was called din.
don." or in the feminine "dnde." as though II
were the fowl d'Inde-from 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 to the
name Of the turkey. the fact yet remains that the
turkey is indigenous to America Although
scientists believe ii is possible that there was
rUina pf yha nri,a t,,
dtgenous to the West Indian islands 1t is generally
conceded that all turkeys have descended in some
way or other from the three forms known today
the North American. the Mexican and the
Honduras. the oceated varieties
The Mexican turkey is found wild throughout
the republic. 1t is short In shank with feathers
on its body OF metallic black shaded only slight.
ly with bronze, while all its feathers are tipped
with white. This appears to be the species first
taken to Spain and other European countries
IL Is thought that the white markings OF the
variety OF domestic turkey known today as the
Aarragansett come from this species.
The Honduras turkey today is scattered all
over 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 are naked
The ground color OF the plumage is a beautiful
bronze green, banded with bold bronze, blue and
red. with bands of brilliant black. This bird.
however. cannot be bred successfully nor domes
ticated away from its native habitat, while even
there It 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 outdone by none when IL
comes to beauty or size
In the United States there are 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 1t has increased
in size. until with some dealers 1t occupies third
place.
Whatever the turkey may have missed through
failing to secure that place OF honor suggested
for 1t by BENJAMIN Franklin-as the national bird
lit has nevertheless found place in the regard
of the American people which Is held by no other
fowi