18 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE 



domestic hen, which in its native state be- 

 longs to the same region, must have been 

 known long before that time. 



In most of the works on poultry, the do- 

 mestic cock is declared to be a pheasant, 

 and we accordingly find it described under 

 the improper name of Phasianus gallus. 

 This conveys an erroneous idea. Accord- 

 ing to modern naturalists, more especially a 

 Dutch writer, Temminck, our domestic cock 

 must be separated from the pheasant (Pha- 

 sianus), and form a distinct genus under the 

 name of Gallus, which had long since been 

 proposed for it by a French naturalist. It 

 is thus described : 



GENUS GALLUS. Brisson. 



Bill smooth at the base, thick, slightly cur- 

 ved. Nostrils covered by an arched scale. 

 Generally an erect, fleshy crest on the 

 head. Throat with fleshy wattles on each 

 side of the lower mandible. Ears naked. 

 Feet armed with strong spurs. Anterior 

 toes united by a membrane as far as the 

 first joint. Tail of 14 feathers, compress- 



