36 THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 



or two remarkable changes of form subsequent to its having 

 been saved from annihilation by becoming dependent on the 

 care of Man, if we can believe domestication to be capable of 

 producing such changes. The crest of feathers on the head 

 is an extraordinary metamorphosis to have occurred from an 

 original fleshy comb. There is no yet discovered instance, 

 that I am aware of, of any wild crested breed. Aristotle makes 

 such a pointed and so clear a distinction between the feathered 

 crests of birds in general, and the combs of cocks, as to lead 

 to a strong suspicion that he was unacquainted with Fowls 

 with top-knots; which he could hardly have avoided seeing in 

 the course of his unequalled opportunities for research, had 

 they existed in his day; "certain birds have a crest; in some 

 consisting of actual feathers; but that of Cocks alone is pecu- 

 liar, being neither flesh, nor yet very different from flesh in 

 its nature." Hist. Anim., book ii., chap. xii. towards the end. 

 I can find no passage in the classical authors which implies 

 that the Cocks and Hens of their day bore a feathered top- 

 knot. The Latin crista is at least an ambiguous word. If it 

 occasionally means a plumed crest like that of the Hoopoe, it 

 is also most pointedly used for a fleshy comb. Pliny, lib. 

 xxvii., chap. 93, says, " The Alectorolophus (a plant), which 

 with us is called Crista , has leaves like a Cock's comb." This 

 passage may not be considered conclusive; because, although 

 the Cockscomb is a remarkable and striking plant, he might 

 intend to describe some other herb which bore tufts or tassels. 

 But in describing the Phoenix (lib. x., chap. 2), he mentions 

 that " it is adorned with wattles (using the same word that he 

 does to express the comb) on its throat, and a feathered top- 

 knot on its head." But further on he puts the interpretation 

 of the word beyond all doubt. " Messalinus Cotta discovered 

 the method of cooking the web of Geese's feet, and fricaseeing 

 them in small dishes along with Cock's combs." Lib. x., c. 27. 

 Not even the Romans would think a tuft of feathers any great 



