Turkeys : standard varieties and management. Page: 3
This book is part of the collection entitled: Government Documents A to Z Digitization Project and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
TURKEYS: STANDARD VARIETIES AND MANAGEMENT.
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
No other kind of domestic poultry has come into such general use
throughout the entire world for Thanksgiving and holiday feasts as
has the turkey. Records show that in England, in 1541, it was enumerated
among the dainties, while in 1573 it had become the customary
fare of the farmer.
ORIXIN OF THE DOMESTIC TURKEY.
W. B. Tegetmeier, F. Z. S., in the poultry book issued in London
(1867), says of the domestic turkey:
Every author who has written on the subject, since the days of Linnaeus, has
considered it to be derived from the well-known wild turkey of North America; but
on account of the great differences which are met with among our domestic turkeys,
and the strains of the wild turkeys recently imported from North America not readily
associating or pairing with them, J have for years past entertained a contrary
opinion.
This writer is probably in error regarding the failure of the wild
turkeys of North America to pair with the domestic turkeys, as
Audubon has recorded the coming of wild turkeys into the barnyard,
where they paired with his domestic turkeys. It is also well known
that the American Bronze turkey originated from the union of the
wild turkey of North America with the domestic turkey of this
country.
Mr. Tegetmeier quotes from the writings of Prof. Spencer Baird
and others to show that the early scientific authorities on ornithological
subjects believed that there existed at one time a distinct
variety, the original of our domestic turkey; that this was indigenous
to the West India Islands, and was transferred as tamed to Mexico;
that it was taken thence to Europe in 1520; and that ultimately the
wild original was exterminated by the natives. Whether or not this
view is correct will probably never be satisfactorily settled. It is the
generally accepted view at the present time that all the turkeys of the
world have descended in some way or other from the three forms
known as the North American, the Mexican, and the Honduras, or
Ocellated, turkey.3
200
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
United States. Department of Agriculture. Turkeys : standard varieties and management., book, 1906; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6440/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.