J74 THE GIGANTIC COCK. 



country. The other two varieties are more frequently 

 seen, and are known as the Silky Cock (G. lanatus), 

 and the Friesland Cock (G. crispus). The first, Tem- 

 ininck is inclined to consider distinct. It is found 

 in Japan and China, and is sold to Europeans as a 

 rarity. In this country it crosses easily with the 

 white domestic poultry, and a breed having the 

 feathers less disunited and silky is the consequence. 

 It is a curious fact, that the periosteum and skin of 

 this bird are of the same dark colour with those of 

 the G. morio, while the flesh is remarkably white. The 

 size is rather small, the plumage of the purest white, 

 the feathers having the webs disunited are of a silky 

 appearance and feel, and the comb and wattles are 

 of a laky purple. The Friesland or Crested Cock 

 lias all the feathers as it were turned the wrong way ; 

 they stand nearly at right angles with the body. 

 The general colour of the plumage is white, but it is 

 often seen varied like the other domestic races. It 

 also occurs in a domesticated state in Java and Su- 

 matra, but Temminck thinks it a distinct species, 

 and peculiar to some parts of the Indian islands 

 yet unexplored. We, however, think this less pro- 

 bable, than that the two previously mentioned are 

 separate in their origin, as we meet with analogous 

 variations in the hair of animals, which we know to 

 belong to one race. 



It is from a better known species that the race of 

 Bantams appears to have sprung ; the G. Bankiva 

 of Temminck, which we have represented in the vig- 



