PLACE OF POULTRY IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 65 
B.C., where the Institute of Menu alludes to the sport of cock- 
fighting, which was probably carried on with the Aseel. From 
that time on we find domestic fowls constantly referred to in early 
records, and their improvement was consistent with the advance 
in civilization. They were gradually distributed westward and 
over the continent, coming into Europe from Central China by 
way of Siberia and Russia. They were carried to the New World 
early in the period of colonization, where they had formerly been 
entirely unknown. 
Place of Poultry in the Animal Kingdom.—As members of 
Gallus bankiva are, undoubtedly, the leading ancestors of our 
domestic breeds of to-day, it is interesting to trace the place which 
poultry occupy in the animal kingdom and to determine their rela- 
tion to.other types of birds. The following analysis gives in an 
abbreviated form the place of poultry in the animal kingdom: 
Krinepom, Animal. 
SERIEs, Metazoa: consisting of animals with cellular tissues and 
true eggs. 
BRANCH, Vertebrata: animals having an internal skeleton, backbone, 
and dorsal nervous cord which is separated 
from the body cavity; circulation complete; 
limbs not more than four. : 
Drvision II, Craniota: animals of the subkingdom Vertebrata having 
skull, heart, and brain. 
Province II, Sauropsida: Craniota with amnion and allantois; no gills; 
epidermal scales or feathers. 
Crass IV, Aves: true birds; feathered; four limbs, hind pair for 
progression on land or water, front pair for 
flight; no teeth; three eyelids; heart with four 
cavities; lungs. 
Suscuass JI, Carinate: _ birds having a kéel or breastbone and functional 
wings. 
Orper VI, Rasores: an order of Carinate which are terrestrial in their 
habits, having short, stout legs, suited to 
scratching; and with stout, arched beak for 
seed eating. Gallus is a true representative of 
ibisersen, and is the ancestor of our domestic 
fowls. 
The class Aves, or birds, represents one of the most clearly 
defined classes of the whole animal kingdom, having a great many 
divisions or subclasses. They are aquatic, terrestrial, and aérial 
in their habits; all types, however, show great similarity of struc- 
ture. The order Rasores, to which our domestic fowls belong, 
contains a great many birds which are very valuable toman. This 
order, in general, is characterized by short, arched beak; short 
concave wings, unfit. for extended flight; stout legs of medium 
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