AVES 435 



Others have adjusted themselves to human surroundings and 

 to our crops of grains and fruits. These have suffered less; 

 indeed some species increase in numbers more than would be 

 possible in the wild state. Still others have been domesticated, 

 and by breeding, selection, and support have been greatly- 

 changed and improved for human uses. The birds that have 

 been domesticated are chiefly the ostriches, members of the goose 

 family (ducks, geese, swans), several Gallinse (chicken, turkey, 

 guinea-fowls, pheasants, pea-fowls) a few of the Raptores (as the 

 falcon) , the pigeons, and occasional members of other orders, as 

 parrots, magpies, and a few song birds. 



The student of Zoology shotdd not fail to familiarize him- 

 self with the main types of chickens which have been developed. 

 A few of the main classes of breeds are as follows: the Asiatic 

 breeds, including Brahmas, Cochins, Langshans; the Mediter- 

 ranean breeds, including Leghorns, Minorcas, and Black Spanish ; 

 the Dutch breeds, Hamburgs and Red-caps; the French breeds, 

 Houdans, and Crevecoeurs; the' English breeds, as Orpingtons 

 and Dorkings; the American breeds, as Plymouth Rocks, Wyan- 

 dottes, Dominiques, and Rhode Island Reds; and fancy breeds 

 as the Bantams, game birds, etc. 



The special egg breeds are the varieties of Leghorns, Minorcas, 

 Spanish, and Red-caps. The meat-producing breeds are Brah- 

 mas, Cochins, and Langshans. The Plymouth Rocks, Wyan- 

 dottes, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, and Dorkings are desir- 

 able breeds for general service in both respects. 



Aside from the food values of poultry, the group of birds 

 renders man niost notable service in two ways, — by destroying 

 noxious insects and by eating weed seeds. To be sure they do 

 take some toll in cultivated grains and in fruits; but with very 

 few exceptions it has been shown by examination of stomach 

 contents of various species at various ages that the great bulk 

 of the smaller birds are helpful to human interests, and often 

 greatly so. One observer found 7, 500 seeds of one common weed 

 in the stomach of one dove. If all birds were suddenly destroyed, 

 unquestionably many species of insects would at once increase 

 to the point where they would be a fearful pest to mankind, 

 before a new balance in nature would be struck. Mice and 



