PLACE OF POULTRY IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



65 



B.C., where the Institute of Menu alludes to the sport of cock- 

 fighting, which was probably carried on with the Aseel. From 

 that time on we find domestic fowls constantly referred to in early 

 records, and their improvement was consistent with the advance 

 in civilization. They were gradually distributed westward and 

 over the continent, coming into Europe from Central China by 

 way of Siberia and Russia. They were carried to the New World 

 early in the period of colonization, where they had formerly been 

 entirely unknown. 



Place of Poultry in the Animal Kingdom. As members of 

 Gallus bankiva are, undoubtedly, the leading ancestors of our 

 domestic breeds of to-day, it is interesting to trace the place which 

 poultry occupy in the animal kingdom and to determine their rela- 

 tion to other types of birds. The following analysis gives in an 

 abbreviated form the place of poultry in the animal kingdom : 



KINGDOM, Animal. 



SERIES, Melazoa: consisting of animals with cellular tissues and 



true eggs. 



BRANCH, Vertebrata: animals having an internal skeleton, backbone, 



and dorsal nervous cord which is separated 

 from the body cavity; circulation complete; 

 limbs not more than four. 



DIVISION II, Cranwta: animals of the subkingdom Vertebrata having 



skull, heart, and brain. 



PROVINCE II, Sauropsida: Craniota with amnion and allantois; no gills; 



epidermal scales or feathers. 



CLASS IV, Aves: true birds; feathered; four limbs, hind pair for 



progression on land or water, front pair for 

 flight; no teeth; three eyelids; heart with four 

 cavities; lungs. 



SUBCLASS II, Carinatce: birds having a keel or breastbone and functional 



wings. 



ORDER VI, Rasores: an order of Carinatce which are terrestrial in their 



habits, having short, stout legs, suited to 

 scratching; and with stout, arched beak for 

 seed eating. Gallus is a true representative of 

 this order, and is the ancestor of our domestic 

 fowls. 



The class Aves, or birds, represents one of the most clearly 

 defined classes of the whole animal kingdom, having a great many 

 divisions or subclasses. They are aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial 

 in their habits; all types, however, show great similarity of struc- 

 ture. The order Rasores, to which our domestic fowls belong, 

 contains a great many birds which are very valuable to man. This 

 order, in general, is characterized by short, arched beak; short 

 concave wings, unfit for extended flight; stout legs of medium 

 5 



