592 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vn. 



managed, not only repay the trouble and expense of their keep, but 

 afford a very considerable profit to the rearer and dealer. Yet how 

 few persons seem aware of this, or at any rate how few there are who 

 pay to this branch of farm stock that attention of which it is so well 

 worthy ! 



Though considerable study has been devoted to the question as to 

 the origin of the domestic fowl, we appear as far from a settlement 

 thereof as ever. Naturalists are agreed to a certain extent, beyond 

 which there are differences that they are unable to settle. For a 

 time the opinion of Darwin that all our domestic fowls are derived 

 from one stock, the Gallus Bankiva, or wild fowl of India, found 

 almost general acceptance, but doubts have more recently been thrown 

 upon this view. The problem, therefore, still continues unsolved, 

 and, in the absence of clearer information than we have yet been able to 

 obtain, it is likely to remain so. One thing, however, is certain, 

 namely, that the majority of our breeds of fowls are derived from the 

 wild fowl mentioned above, and also that all our breeds trace their 

 origin to Eastern and Southern Asia. 



It is evident from the tone of Darwin's writings that he was aware of the 

 somewhat slender evidence in support of the theory that domestic fowls 

 are all descended from one species, for he says in his work " On the 

 Variations of Animals and Plants under Domestication " (Vol. I. 

 p. 251), " We have not such good evidence with fowls as with pigeons, 

 of all the breeds being descended from a single primitive stock. In 

 both cases the argument of fertility must go for something ; in both 

 we have the improbability of man having succeeded in ancient times 

 in thoroughly domesticating several supposed species most of these 

 natural allies all being now either unknown or extinct, though the 

 parent form of no other domesticated bird has been lost." The re- 

 markable variations in many species led the great naturalist to the 

 belief that his opinion was the correct one, and that all fowls owe their 

 origin to the Gallus Bankiva. 



Until recently Darwin's theory was accepted, but iri the " Field " 

 of September 26th, 1885, there appeared a letter by Mr. W. B. 

 Tegetmeier, from which it would seem likely that the generally accepted 

 theory may after all be wrong. " The origin of all the different 

 varieties or breeds of the domestic fowl is usually believed to be the 

 common wild India jungle cock, the Gallus ferrugineus of modern 

 naturalists, but known also as the Bankiva fowl (G. Bankiva in the 

 older books). This bird may be readily described as closely resembling 

 a small black-breasted red game-cock, with a tail carried more hori- 

 zontally than usual. It may be regarded as most presumptuous in me 

 to dare to contest the conclusions arrived at by the honoured master 

 Darwin, with whom and for whom it was for some years my privilege 

 to work ; but a careful and extended consideration of the facts has led 

 me to a different conclusion to that arrived at by him." 



After describing observations of his own, made as to the different 

 types of Gallus, which had led him to first question Darwin's decision, 

 Mr. Tegetmeier goes on to say : 



