The flight of the turkey
The bird’s many names speak of early globalisation and confusion
BEFORE tucking in this year, spare a thought for the journey made by the big-bodied, bright-plumed and flightless bird that may have landed on your Christmas table. Wherever this specimen was raised and wherever you are dining, the species has travelled a very long distance to reach you. Five hundred years ago the turkey starred in a world tour as a thing of wonder. Its best souvenirs are the names it collected along the way.
This article appeared in the Christmas Specials section of the print edition under the headline “The flight of the turkey”
From the December 20th 2014 edition
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