DOMESTIC ANIMALS 117 



desirable physical quality ? On what principles does man 

 select breeders among dogs ? 



Structure. The horse has only one toe on each foot. 

 Compare a horse's foot with the feet of other animals that 

 you have studied. The first horses which appeared on the 

 earth had four toes, which were separated from each other, 

 and the animals were about as large as foxes. On this 

 interesting subject you must consult some elementary geol- 

 ogy. Compare the dentition of the horse with that of mam- 

 mals you have studied. Does a horse ruminate ? Are its 

 teeth fit for grinding hard food ? How does it move its 

 jaws when eating ? Why can horses graze on very closely 

 cropped meadows ? 



The Poultry Yard 



48. Domestic Chickens. 



MATERIAL : Pictures of different breeds ; a clean skull prepared by 

 boiling a head with the bill on it. Previously observed : Hens scratch- 

 ing for food and protecting their chicks. For pictures, see Farmers' 

 Bulletin, No. 51, Standard Varieties of Chickens. 



The jungle fowl of India is regarded by naturalists as the 

 ancestral type of our domestic chickens. 



OUTLINE FOR LESSON 



1. Thoroughly domesticated. Do not return to a wild 

 state, are never found far from human habitation. Com- 

 pare turkeys and guinea fowls. 



2. Food. Almost omnivorous ; therefore easily kept. 

 Find their food on the farm ; almost live on kitchen scraps 

 in town. 



3. Do well if much confined. Need but a small grass 

 plot for a run. Compare turkeys and guinea fowls. 



4. Prolific layers and breeders. 



