ORDER GALLINiE. 217 



The race of crested cocks is particularly in estimation with 

 the curious. It is cultivated with great care ; and those who 

 are desirous of propagating any singular varieties of it, isolate 

 certain individuals, and do not suffer them to mingle with 

 others, in which the colours are differently distributed. Such 

 varieties are more esteemed in proportion as the colours are 

 more rare, or as the tuft contrasts with the rest of the plumage. 

 Though the differences of plumage are thus preserved 

 pretty constant, it is certain that they owe their origin to the 

 same race, and cannot be reproduced in all their purity with- 

 out the surveillance of man. 



Sonnini tells us that these cocks are much esteemed in 

 Egypt, in consequence of the goodness of their flesh. In 

 Upper Egypt they are so common that they are sold at the 

 rate of two-pence or three-pence a-piece. Tliey are equally 

 abundant at the Cape of Good Hope. 



The TurTcish and Bantam Cocks are considered toge- 

 ther by M. Temminck, as, in truth, there is a great analogy 

 between them. They do not, in fact, differ very materially 

 from our domestic race ; and have also much analogy with 

 the Javan species, bankiva. They resemble each other in 

 size ; their tail is not nearly so vertical as in our domestic 

 breed, and they are smaller than our cock. They may be 

 considered, perhaps, as the result of a breed, less crossed, 

 more directly originating from bankiva. 



The bantam cocks differ from the Turkish in the feathers, 

 more or less long, with which the tarsus, and frequently even 

 the toes, are covered. These feathers do not constitute any 

 specific difference ; they appear to be simply the effect of 

 superabundant nourishment, Avith the inseparable consequence 

 of domestication. The same effect, produced by the same 

 causes, is found in many races of the domestic pigeon, which 

 have also the tarsi and feet furnished with feathers, of 

 greater or less length. 



