326 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Asia, where they are supposed to have originated, 

 they have been diffused over every part of the in- 

 habited world. America was the last to receive 

 them. It has been said that they were first intro- 

 duced into Brazil by the Portuguese ; they are now 

 as common in all the inhabited parts of that vast 

 continent as with us. Of those which have been 

 selected for domestic purposes in this country, the 

 principal are 



1. The Crested Cock, of which there are several 

 varieties, such as the white-crested black ones : the 

 black-crested white ones ; the gold and silver 

 ones, &c. 



2. The Hamburgh Cock, named also Velvet 

 Breeches, because its thighs and belly are of a soft 

 black.* This is a very large kind, and much used 

 for the table. 



3. The Bantam, or Dwarf Cock, a diminutive but 

 very spirited breed : its legs are furnished with 

 long feathers, which reach to the ground behind ; 

 it is very courageous, and will fight with one much 

 stronger than itself. 



4. The Frizzled Cock. The feathers in this are 

 so curled up that they seem to be reversed, and to 

 stand in opposite directions. They are originally 

 from the southern parts of Asia, and when young 

 are extremely sensible of cold. They have a dis- 

 ordered and unpleasant appearance, but are in 

 much esteem for the table. 



5. The Silk Fowls, whose skin and bones are 

 black. 



6. A kind which has no rump, and consequently 

 no tail feathers. 



* Buff on. 



