Probable Origin of the Domestic Fowl. 



501 



Btill known ; and developed through the Callus Bauldva into the Games, while other breeds were 

 reached through collateral branches, now either extinct, or possibly still further modified into 

 the present other three known races. It is no objection whatever to such a theory that " the four 

 known species have «^^ become extinct," as Mr. Danvin says; the simple fact being that such four 

 are " known " merely because they are " not extinct." That one of these collateral branches was 

 of great size, and in most points resembled the Brahma more than either Cochin or Malay, we 

 think probable. We shall see that the turkey rather degenerated than increased in size by 

 domestication ; and we shall also see that clever naturalists in iliat case resorted to the theory of 

 an extinct breed on very far slighter grounds than those we have briefly sketched out. We have 

 no wish to drag the odium thcologicmn into such a work as this ; but we may at least legitimately 

 remark that those who believe, on what they consider sufficient grounds, that various races of 

 animals (how many distinct races we need not say ; we have not the slightest doubt that some 

 have developed into many varieties, or that the horse and the ass, for instance, may have sprung 

 fropi one progenitor) were created by a great Master Workman in great degree for the use of 

 man, the highest of his creatures, may be pardoned if they also believe that such a Workman may 

 possibly and probably have created them originally in a shape adapted for his use, and that, in 

 becoming feral, many of them may have degenerated, and become less adapted for such purposes 

 than the first type originally was. More positive conclusions than these, we do not feel at present 

 that there are facts enough to enable us to frame. 



