MANUAL ON POULTRY. 



According to Darwin, who has given the subject a very thorough 

 and systematic investigation, our domestic gallinaceous fowls have 

 all descended from one common source, viz : the wild Gallus Ban- 

 Jciva of southeastern Asia. 



The black-breasted red game cock resembles very closely the wild 

 Gallus Bankwa cock of India. 



Mr. Darwin experimented with various crosses of domestic breeds, 

 and observed that there was invariably a tendency to a reversion to 

 the original red color of the wild fowl. 



All breeders of improved stock, of whatever kind, are familiar 

 with the fact that a constant tendency to reversion to the original 

 type exists, and must be guarded against by careful, judicious elec. 

 tion, annually repeated. 



Peculiarities of form and color have been seized upon as starting 

 points from which to establish new breeds, by in-breeding and sub- 

 sequent crossing with the original. After a few distinct varieties 

 were established the multiplication of breeds became an easy mat- 

 ter. Breeds of cattle, horses, sheep and swine have been multiplied 

 in the same manner. 



Sub-varieties are produced by election of breeding stock of a par- 

 ticular type or color, and by breeding the offspring back to the sire y 

 until his type is sa fixed in the offspring that it becomes capable of 

 uniformly reproducing its kind when bred inter se. Breeds hare 

 thus been multiplied both by following up accidental peculiarities, 

 and by systematic mating of birds of different established breeds. 



