AVKS 



423 



Before civilized man destroyed their haunts and persistently 

 hunted them with his improved weapons, these were among the 

 very successful wild birds. Most species are now really quite 

 scarce. The only hope of preserving them is by legal protection 

 at critical times or by domestication. 



Chief among the domesticated birds is the common fowl 

 which is descended from a species native to southern Asia 



Fi*. 223. 



FIG. 223. Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon, L).. About one-fourth natural size. By J. W. 



Folsom. 



(Gallus bankiva). By breeding and selection almost innumer- 

 able varieties have been produced. The poultry and egg in- 

 dustry is one of the most important in the country, amounting 

 to more than 700,000,000 dollars annually. In 1901, one and 

 one-half billion dozens of eggs (estimated) were produced on 

 the farms of this country. This in one of the great sources of 

 human food. Turkeys, guinea-fowl, and pea-fowl contribute 

 in less degree. 



The Columbce (doves) are in many respects similar to the 



