Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1919-11-21

After studying the wild turkey for 60 years.
hunting 1t for 80 years and photographing 1t for
ten years, Charles L. Jordan, an Alabama gem
tleman, thought with Benjamin Franklin, that the
eagle hasn't honest leg to stand on as the real
bird of freedom.
Though little vain and silly" the turkey
FRANKLIN said, Is a native American "and q bird
of courage" Had he known more on the subject
he would have added that the turkey is both wise
and Clearly and is never vain or silly except dur
Ing the gobbng season. Can as much be said of
any other biped? .,.
The gobbling season-among turkeys, of course
"Opens and ends with spring. 1t is then that the
male struts and calls and reveals his whereabouts
to hunters and their dogs.
During the rest of the year. however he frus-
trates man and mocks at all his plans He is in
the woods, but invisible to enemies armed with
guns. Brave, silent, dignified and capable, he is
uncomfortable until he becomes elocutive and
love-lorn and begins to make huge fan of his
tail.
Wild turkeys have had their historians, biogra-
pliers and antquarians says James B. Morrow
in the Boston Globe. Scientists have written
about them in lingo that nobody can under
stand There are enough turkey books here and.
in France, Spain and Great Britain to make
large library in themselves.
The department of agriculture in Washington
employs field expert who spends larger part
of the year with focks of domestcated turkeys
that he may learn their habits and search out all
the secrets of their lives. The turkey Industry
touches almost every farm.
Tranoads of live and dressed turkeys are
shipped from large and small towns In the South.
There are turkey farms In the West, with herders
for the locks, and turkeys in droves, like cattle
and sheep, can be seen in Tennessee, California
and elsewhere just before Thanksgiving and
Christmas, on the way to market. Also there are
turkey doctors.
But Mr.. Jordan living out of doors from child
hood to old age. and meeting his death at last
from a poacher's shot, knew more about turkeys
than anyone who has ever lived. He began study
ing them. hidden behind fallen trees and In the
brush while still too young to carry rife.
Chief among the pupils Of this fine old master
was Edward A. McIlhenny, a business man of
Avery island, Louisiana. at whose suggestion re-
serves for birds have been established in different
parts of the United States. The McIlhenney
family owns Avery island. some $500 acres in ex-
tent where the fast vanishing white heron finds
refuge during the breeding season, and where
ducks by the thousand live throughout the win
ter.
Among the turkey hunters of today Mr. Nc
Ihenny is prominent. But for his fidelity and
enthusiasm and his skill as a writer Mr.. Jor-
dams practical and fascinating knowledge of the
wild turkey would have been lost to sportsmen
and naturalists. So, too, would have been lost
Mr. Jordan's method of cooking whether the
turkey is shot in the woods or. less dramatically.
is taken from a tree near the house from
coop.
A turkey having been obtained. the next trans
action is to prepare 1t for the table. The second
= -