236 FOWLS. Chap. VIL 



CHAPTEE VIL 



FOWLS. 



BRIEF DESChlPTIONS OF THE CHIEF BREEDS — ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF 

 THEIR DESCENT FROM SEVERAL SPECIES — ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OP ALL 

 THE BREEDS HAVING DESCENDED FR03I GaLLUS BANKI^A — REVERSION TO 

 THE PARENT-STOCK IN COLOUR — ANALOGOUS VARIATIONS — ANCIENT 

 HISTORY OF THE FOWL — EXTERNAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SEVERAL 

 BREEDS — EGGS — CHICKENS — SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS — WING- AND 

 TAIL- FEATHERS, VOICE, DISPOSITION, ETC. — OSTEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES 

 IN THE SKULL, VERTEBRA, ETC. — EFFECTS OF USE AND DISUSE ON 

 CERTAIN PARTS — CORRELATION OF GROWTH. 



As some naturalists may not bo familiar with the chief breeds 

 of the fowl, it will be advisable to give a condensed descrip- 

 tion of them.i From what I have read and seen of specimens 

 brought from several quartei's of the world, I believe that 

 most of the chief kinds have been imported into England, but 

 many sub-breeds are probably still unknown here. The 

 following discussion on the origin of the various breeds and 

 on their characteristic differences does not pretend to com- 

 jileteness, but may be of some interest to the naturalist. The 

 classification of the breeds cannot, as far as I can see, be made 

 natural. They differ from each other in different degrees, and 

 do not afford characters in subordination to each other, by 

 which they can be ranked in group under group. They seem 

 all to have diverged by independent and different roads from 

 a single type. Each chief breed includes differently coloured 

 sub-varieties, most of which can be truly propagated, but it 

 would be superfluous to describe them. I have classed the 

 various crested fowls as sub-breeds under the Polish fowl ; 



' I have drawn up this brief sj-nop- likewise assisted me in every possible 



sis from various sources, but chiefly way in obtaining for me information 



from information given me by Mr. and specimens. I must not let this 



Tegetmeier. This gentleman has opportunity pass without expressing 



kindly loolied through this chapter; my cordial thanks to Mr. B. P. Brent, 



and from his well-known knowledge, a well-known writer on poultry, for 



the statements here given may be continuous assistance and the gift oi 



fully trusted. Mr. Tegetmeier has many specimens. 



