DarMii^ Foxvls. 21 



distinguished permanent varieiy, and that 

 variety bearing the name of Darking, seems 

 a siifFicient proof in favour of that town and 

 its. neighbourhood. In the mean time, the 

 appellation, Darking fowl, has been in use, 

 I apprehend, far beyond the memory of 

 anv one now" livino- : and it is not at all 

 improbable, the large Sussex breed ha^ 

 originated from a Darking cross, the pecu- 

 liar mark of five claws, disappearing in the 

 course of time, from the small number of 

 Darking cocks employed, compared witli 

 that of the Sussex or common cocks, whicli 

 were not so distinguished. Such is a com- 

 mon case in crossing varieties of live stock ; 

 the home variety in the end gets uppermost, 

 as being the majority. In fine, five claws 

 form an original distinction, in the common 

 cock and hen, adverted to by BufFon ; nor 

 is there any thing inconvenient or injurious 

 in it, the fifth claw being seldom of suffici- 

 ent magnitude to encumber the foot, or 

 cause it to scratch out the eggs, as has been 

 apprehended. 



