ORIGIN OF THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 23 



Jungle fowl is less in size than the common dunghill cock ; the 

 comb and wattles are similar, but the naked parts of the head 

 and neck are more considerable. The feathers differ in struc- 

 ture and aspect, and are longest on the lowest parts. The 

 Jungle hen has the throat entirely covered with feathers, and 

 is without either comb or wattles, which is a remarkable dis- 

 tinction from our domestic hens. And there is a peculiarity 

 also in the feathers of the Jungle cock, which is irreconcilable 

 with the idea of this variety being the original type of the race. 



The most probable supposition is, that the varieties known to 

 us may be referred to a few of the more remarkable fowls, as 

 the progenitors of their several species. However great the 

 analogies which exist in any case, we must remember that 

 domestication has produced great effects as to the form of the 

 body and its appendages. The constant and frequently careless 

 crossing of one bird with another, and the promiscuous inter- 

 course which takes place, changes of climate and variety of food 

 and treatment, must greatly multiply the difficulties which 

 exist in referring modern individuals to their primitive stock. 



It may be safe to recognize the Gallus giganteus of zoologists, 

 the great fowl of St. Jago and Sumatra, as the type of some of 

 the larger varieties, such as the Spanish and the Paduan fowls, 

 and those resembling them. To the BanJdva cock, probably, 

 on the other hand, belong the smaller varieties, such as Ban- 

 tams, the Turkish fowl, and the like. 



In the opinion of Richardson, the reasons for supposing these 

 birds to be the true originals of our domestic poultry are, 



" In the first place, the close resemblance subsisting between 

 their females and our domestic hens. 



2. The size of our domestic cock being intermediate between 

 the two, and alternating in degree, sometimes inclining towards 

 the one, and sometimes towards the other. 



3. From the nature of their feathers and their general 



