64 



BREEDS OF POULTRY 



. those of the domestic fowl. The female is much smaller and has 

 less comb and wattles than the male. The shanks of both sexes 

 are willow colored, resembling those of the black-breasted red 

 game fowl. They are capable of considerable flight, but in 

 other habits resemble to a great extent the domestic forms. 

 Breeding experiments show that they are completely fertile with 

 the domestic birds. 



The reason for concluding that a second species, other than 

 the Gallus bankiva, was present in the evolution of the present 

 type is the existence of characteristics which it is impossible to 



FIG. 38. A pair of Aseel fowls, the Malay ancestor of domestic birds. The heavy mejit 

 breeds resemble this ancestor. 



breed from the jungle fowl alone. With the use of the Aseel or 

 Malay fowl as one parent (Fig. 38) a complete ancestry is explained, 

 and an intelligent history of the domestication can be written. 

 This ancient Aseel fowl is now practically extinct, but was undoubt- 

 edly the oldest fowl in domestication, having been bred in India 

 3,000 years ago. These Aseel fowls show a pea comb, stout yellow 

 legs, a stocky body, and an unwillingness to fly high in the air. 

 These characteristics are entirely different from those of the 

 bankiva fowls, which are so prominent in our heavier breeds, as 

 Brahmas and Cochins. 



The process of domestication can be traced from about 1000 



