AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 331 



BLACK-BONED FOWLS AGxVIN. 



The Dutch ornithologist, Temminck, regarded it as a distinct 

 species, and called it " Gallus morio," but is merely a variety of 

 our Gallus domestics, or the Phasianus, Gallus of Linnaus. All, 

 however, agree as to the excellent quality of it for the taljle. 



Professor Blumenbach, in his comparative anatomy, states, that 

 in some varieties of the fowl, the bones approach a black color. 

 The same has been noticed by Abulfazel, the Vizier of Akbar the 

 Great, as to fowls at Lidore and Neermul, in Berar. See Ayeen 

 Akberry, vol. 2, page 72. 



Niebuhr has affirmed the same thing of the fowls of Persepolis. 



The bones of the Gar-pike are said to be greenish in color. 



Mr. Meigs — Several years ago, I deemed it right, among our 

 wide researches for agricultural knowledge, to avail ourselves of 

 all countries and ages. I gave many good lessons from Columella 

 and Varro. Some thought they knew nothing compared with 

 ourselves. Within a few years the civilized world rejoices in the 

 grand invention of reapers, such as McCormick's, &c. Some time 

 ago, I stated to the Club, that before the Christian era, similar 

 reapers were in general use in Gaul, (modern France.) A sort 

 of wagon body was pushed through the standing grain, at a height 

 so regulated as to take off all the heads, while the straw was 

 trodden down (as it it ought to be) to re-fertilize the field. 



The January number of one of the most scientific and enlight- 

 ened agricultural works of the world, viz, the Highland and 

 Agricultural Society of Scotland, brings forth Columella and 

 Varro in all their force. I advert to some of the main points 

 selected for comparison with our modern practice, after the lapse 

 of eighteen hundred years. 



" The agriculture of that day was founded on the experience 

 of Greece, Egypt, and the nations of the east. At one period, 

 almost every Roman citizen was an agriculturalist. 



"Commerce, trade and the arts were regarded subordinate to 

 it. The greatest men sought it. The names of illustrious fami- 

 lies were assumed from their crops, peas, beans, lentils, lettuce, 

 grains, piso, &c. There have come down to us but five books on 

 the subject. Columella says, that Tremellius Scrofa had rendered 



