THE JUNGLE FOWL," 



The restricted genus Gallun is one of peculiar importance. The head of the birds 

 constituting it is generally surmounted by a fleshy vertical crest, the base of the lower 

 mandible furnished with two flattened wattles, and the tail-feathers, fourteen in number, 

 rising in two almost upright planes, with ample coverts in the male sex. Here we find 

 our domestic cock and hen.f 



Many i'anciful and superstitious feelings are still retained regarding the domestic cock, 

 and his nocturnal crowing ; and even his more familiar morning salutation is supposed 

 by the ignorant to dispel all spirits, " whether on sea or fire, in earth or air." 



" Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes 

 Wherein our Savio\n''s birth is celebrate, 

 The bird of dawning singcth all day long ; 

 .\nd then, they say, no spirit walks abroad; 

 The nights are wholesome : then no planets strike ; 

 No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm j 

 So hallowed and so gracious is the time " 



Of the numerous bonolits wliich the Divine goodness has enabled us to derive from the 

 wide circle of the feathered tribes, there is probably none which surpasses, cither in 

 extent or utility, the domestication of these most familiar birds. So long, however, have 

 they been subservient to the subsistence and comfort of our race, that no authentic tradi- 

 tion remains (if tlieir infi'odtictioii (n \\n\ of tlic iiiort" ancii'iit kingdoms of tlio i^irth. They 



('allii> (-ii"aiilciia. li inui 



I Hallux dciiiicsliiiis. 



