40 THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 



likely than the crest to have supervened in the course of time. 

 I do not find it mentioned by any earlier writer than Columella. 

 The compilers of books on Poultry have stated that it is noticed 

 by Aristotle, but I cannot hit upon the passage. In his treatise 

 on the Parts of Animals, book iv., chap. 12, he speaks of the 

 four toes of birds in general, noticing the peculiarities of the 

 Ostrich and the Wryneck, but not a word about the fifth toe 

 in Domestic Fowl, which he would scarcely have passed over 

 had he ever observed it; particularly as other remarkable cir- 

 cumstances, connected with them, such as the development of 

 the egg, &c., attracted so much of his attention. From Aris- 

 totle to Columella is an interval of about 400 years; quite 

 time enough to render such a slight appendage permanent by 

 hereditary transmission. The new member would probably 

 appear only in a rudimental form at first, and become more 

 strongly developed in the course of succeeding generations. 

 A Cochin China Cock in my possession has the outer toe of 

 each foot furnished with two distinct claws, which we may 

 take to be the earliest indication of a fifth toe. His chickens 

 inherit the same peculiarity. A correspondent (H. H.) on 

 whom I can rely, says, "I had a Cock of the Golden Polish 

 variety that lost two of his claws by accident, and in their 

 place two smaller joints grew from the end of each toe, both 

 provided with little claws. This became hereditary, for next 

 season there were two chicks hatched, both having the afore- 

 said peculiarity/ 7 Analogous instances may be seen in Muse- 

 ums, of lizards with two tails; the original single one having 

 been lost by accident, and two grew in its place. It is said, 

 I know not with what truth, that a slight notch made in the 

 stump of the decaudated reptile will insure the production of 

 a double tail. From the time of Columella tx) the present 

 day, a fifth toe has been the well-known and distinctive cha- 

 racteristic of a certain breed. 



Next to the Dog, the Fowl has been the most constant 



