Permanence and Evolution. 69 



THE FOWL. 



The fowl is a case analogous to that of the 

 pigeon, but, according to Darwin, less forcible. 

 The breeds of this bird are supposed all to have 

 descended from Gallus Bankiva, or Ferrugineus, 

 which is practically identical with the black-red 

 game-fowl ; there is no other extant wild form 

 from which they could have descended. Darwin 

 supposes it, as usual, to be extremely improbable 

 that any wild form should be extinct, though 

 the wild game-fowl only manages to exist by its 

 extreme agility, in which it exceeds any other 

 bird, and which the other breeds do not possess 

 (and which is indispensable, owing to the habit 

 the hen has of announcing by a cluck the laying 

 of an egg), not to mention that if the various 

 races existed in the same area the others would 

 be likely to be exterminated or absorbed by the 

 game-fowl, as happens now in a mixed poultry 

 yard. 



