318 NATURAL HISTORY. 



The cock has been long celebrated for his warlike propensities, 

 and his habit of greeting the approach of morn by his " shrill 

 clarion." 



The Bantam is a very little bird indeed, but exceedingly 

 courageous, and does not hesitate to attack a turkey or such 

 large bird with most amusing pompousness of manner. Some 

 Bantams have their legs thickly feathered down to the very 

 toes. The hackles or long neck feathers of this and the 

 preceding bird are much used by anglers for making artificial 

 flies. 



The celebrated Jungle Fowl of India belongs to this race, 

 and is by many supposed to be the origin of our domestic 

 game fowl. The Chinese, who are greatly addicted to the 

 sport of cock-fighting, prefer this bird for their cruel amuse- 

 ment. 



The Dorking Fowl is a large and delicate species. The 

 chief peculiarity in this bird is the double hind toe, so that it 

 has five toes instead of four. 



THE TURKEY. 



The TURKEY is an inhabitant of America, and appears to 

 have been imported into Europe about the year 1600. Its 

 habits in a state of domestication need no description, but 

 when wild in its native woods are rather interesting. It 

 is partly migratory in its habits, moving from the parts 

 about Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, towards the Ohio and 

 Mississippi. The march is usually performed on foot in large 

 flocks, the birds seldom using their wings except when at- 

 tacked, or in order to cross a river. The powerful birds can 

 easily cross a river of a mile in breadth, but the weaker 

 frequently fall into the water, and then paddle to shore with 

 some rapidity. This migration is performed about the end 

 of October. Bonaparte, in his splendid work on the American 



absurd to see the poor creature pecking up a stray crumb or two outside the general 

 circle, and flying in terror before a little game hen, if it ventured to approach too 

 close. The principal advantage of this bird seems to be that the chickens, from their 

 superior size, are ready for the market at an earlier age than those of the ordinary 

 fowl. 



