272 FOWLS. Chap. VIL 



femur considerably longer in the Spanish and Frizzled, and shorter 

 in the Silk and Bantam breeds, than in the wild G. bankiva ; but in 

 the latter, as we have seen, tJie tarsi vary in length. The tarsi are 

 often feathered. The feet in many breeds are furnished with 

 additional toes. Golden-spaugled Polish fowls are said " to have 

 the skin between their toes much developed: Mr. Tegetmeier 

 observed this in one bird, but it was not so in one wliich I examined. 

 Prof. Hoffmann has sent me a sketch of the feet of a fowl of the 

 common breed at Giessen, with a web extending between the three 

 toes, for about a tliird of their length. In Cochins the middle toe is 

 said ^^ to be nearly double the length of the lateral toes, and there- 

 fore much longer than in G. lanhiva or in other fowls ; but this was 

 not the case in two which I examined. The nail of the middle toe 

 in this same breed is surprisingly broad and flat, but in a variable 

 degi-ee m two birds which I examined; of this structure in the nail 

 there is only a trace in G. bankiva. 



The voice differs slightly, as I am informed by Mr. Dixon, in 

 almost every breed. The Malays "" have a loud, deep, somewhat pro- 

 longed crow, but with considerable individual difference. Colonel 

 Sykes remarks that the domestic Kulm cock in India has not the 

 shi-ill clear pipe of the English bird, and " his scale of notes appeai-s 

 more limited." Dr. Hooker was struck with the " prolonged howling 

 screech'' of the cocks in Sikhim.*^' The crow of the Cochin is noto- 

 riously and ludicrously different from that of the common cock. 

 The disposition of the different breeds is widely different, varying 

 from the savage and defiant temper of the Game-cock to the 

 extremely peaceable temper of the Cochins. The latter, it has been 

 asserted, " graze to a much greater extent than any other varieties." 

 The Spanish fowls suffer more from frost than other breeds. 



Before we pass on to the skeleton, the degree of distinctness 

 of the several breeds from G. bankiva ought to be noticed. 

 Some writers speak of the Spanish as one of the most distinct 

 breeds, and so it is in general aspect ; but its characteristic 

 differences are not important. The Malay appears to me more 

 distinct, from its tall stature, small drooping tail with more 

 than fourteen tail-feathers, and from its small comb and 

 wattles; nevertheless, one Malay sub-breed is coloured almost 

 exactly like G. bankiva. Some authors consider the Polish 

 fowl as very distinct ; but this a semi-monstrous breed, as 

 shown by the protuberant and irregularly perforated skull. 



^* Dixon's ' Ornament:il Poultry,' ^° Ferguson on ' Prize Poultry,' p. 



p. 325. 87. 



"'Poultry Chronicle,' vol. i. p. "' Col. Sykes in 'Proc. Zoolog. !5oo., 



48.=i. Tegetraeier's 'Poultry Book,' 1832, p. 151. Dr. Hooker's ' Hiina 



1866, p. 41. On Cochins grazing, layan Journals,' vol. i. p. ol-t. 

 ibid., p. 46. 



