402 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



HISTORY AND CLASSIFICATION. 



Most writers on poultry subjects claim that our chickens were 

 in all probability domesticated at a very early period from the 

 original jungle fowl, the Gallas Banciva, native in southwestern 

 Asia and Oceanica. Turkeys are native to America. Guinea fowls 

 came originally from Africa. Pheasants originated in Asia. 

 Pigeons used for food have been developed from the wild blue 

 rock dove. It is believed that most of our domesticated breeds 

 of ducks were derived from the wild Mallard. Geese, common the 

 world over, have been used as table birds since ancient times. 



Standard Varieties of Chickens — Farmers' Bulletin No. 51, 

 United States Department of Agriculture, by George E. Howard, 

 names 104 standard varieties of chickens, as follows: 



1. American class : Barred, White and Buff Plymouth Rocks ; 

 Silver, Golden, White, Buff, Black, Partridge, Silver-penciled, and 

 Columbian Wyandottes; Black and Mottled Javas; Rose-comb 

 Dominiques; Single-comb and Rose-comb Rhode Island Reds, and 

 Pea-comb Buckeyes. 



2. Asiatic class : Light and Dark Brahmas ; Buff, Partridge, 

 White, and Black Cochins; Black and White Langshans. 



3. Mediterranean class: Single-comb Brown, Rose-comb 

 Brown, Single-comb White, Rose-comb White, Single-comb Buff, 

 Rose-comb Buff, Single-comb Black, White Duckwing Leghorns, 

 Single-comb Black, Rose-comb Black, and Single-comb White 

 Minorcas ; White-faced Black Spanish ; Blue Andalusians, and Mot- 

 tled Anconas. 



4. English class : White, Silver Gray, and Colored Dorkings ; 

 Rose-comb Redcaps; Single-comb Buff, Single-comb Black, and 

 Single-comb White Orpingtons. 



5. Polish class: White-crested Black, Bearded Golden, 

 Bearded Silver, Bearded White, Buff-laced, Non-bearded Golden, 

 Non-bearded Silver, and Non-bearded White Polish. 



6. Dutch class: Golden-spangled, Silver-spangled, Golden- 

 penciled, Silver-penciled, White, and Black Hamburgs. 



7. French class: Mottled Houdans, Black Crevecoeurs, and 

 Black La Fleche. 



8. Game and Game Bantam class : Black-breasted Red, Brown 

 Red, Golden Duckwing, Silver Duckwing, Red Pyle, White, Black 

 and Birchen Games; the same varieties for Game Bantams. 



