New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-11-21

After studying the wild turkey for co years,
hunting it for 80 years and plotogrnphing it for
ten years. Charles l.. Jordan. an Alabama gen
tleman, thought with Benjamin Franklin, that the
eagle hasn't an honest leg TO stand on as the real
bird of freedom.
Though II little vain and silly" the turkey,
Franklin said, Is "A native American land a bird
Of courage" Had he known more on the subject
he would have added that the turkey is both wise
and cleanly and is never vain or silly except dur
ing the ~gobbling 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. lie is in
The woods. but invisible 10 enemies armed with
guns. Brave, silent. dignitied and capable. he is
uncohquerable until he becomes eloeutive and
loyelorn and begins To make Il huge fan of his
tail.
Wild turkeys have had their historians, biogra-
piers and antiquarinns, says James b. Morrow
in the Boston Globe. Scientists have written
about them in a lingo that nobody can under
stand. There are enough turkey books here and
in France, Spain and Great Britain to make a
large library in themselves.
The department of agriculture I'm Washington
employs a field expert who spends a larger part
of the year with Hooks OF dOinestlcated turkeys
that he may learn their habits and search out all
the secrets of their lives. The turkey industry
touches almost every farm.
Trainloads 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 flocks. and turkeys In droves. like cattle
and sheep, can be seen in Tennessee. California
and lsewhere. just before Thanksgiving and
Christmas, on the way to market. Also there are
turkey doctors.
Bur Mr.. Jordan. living out of doors from child
hood to old age, and meeting his death at last
from a p~oacher'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 n rifle.
Chief among the pupils of this fine old master
was Edward A. McIlhenny. a business man or
Avery island. Louisiana. at whose suggestion re-
serves for birds have been established in different
parts of the United States. The Mcllhenney
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
Ilhenny 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 sportsnen
ard 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 or from a
coop.
A turkey having been obtained. the next trans
action is TO prepare it for the table The second