CHAPTER XVIII 



BANTAMS 



Among birds, the domestic fowl is of the greatest economic 

 importance to man. The nutritious eggs and succulent 

 flesh have been one of the chief items of the diet of our 

 race from the dawn of civilization. So true is this that, if 

 deprived of eggs, at least, the housewife would be hard 

 pressed, indeed, in more than one culinary branch. It is no 

 wonder, then, that many breeds of fowl have been de- 

 veloped for their utility value alone. Some have become 

 specialized as layers, producing a marvelous yearly output, 

 others have gained fame as broilers or roasters, while some 

 few have attained honors in both fields. On the other 

 hand, lovers of the beautiful in life have not neglected the 

 opportunity to practise their arts in this group, and many 

 attractive breeds have been evolved. 



The query naturally arises, " What was the original stock 

 from which these numerous forms descended ? " In answer, 

 one can do no better than refer the curious or sceptical to 

 Charles Darwin,* than whose masterly dissertation on the 

 subject no better has yet appeared. That the little Red 

 Jungle-fowl (Gallus gallus), of India and the Malay 

 States, is the ancestor of all our domestic breeds, we have 

 no reason to doubt. , 



The Red Jungle-fowl is best described as closely resem- 

 bling the common Black-breasted Red Game Bantam of the 

 old-fashioned type. The wild cock may be a shade larger, 

 carries his tail lower, has a small, fine comb, and altogether 



* Animals and Plants Under Domestication {y^tstmmsitr Edition), 

 pp. 232-284. 



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