340 



A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



never been deemed by the breeder a feature worth preserving 

 by selection, hence it has practically disappeared. 



From the wild Serin-finch, one of the commonest and best 

 known of all our cage-birds, the Canary, has been evolved by 

 the selective work of the breeder. And if the varieties of the 

 Canary are less numerous than of Pigeons or Fowls, they are 

 certainly as wonderful in the changes of external form which 

 they display. 



III. 34. — Types of Combs 

 " Rose" lower, "pea" right-hand, and "single" left-hand figure. 



But while Pigeons and Fowls prove singularly plastic in the 

 hands of the breeder, some other domesticated species prove 

 more obstinate. Ducks, Geese and Turkeys, for example, ap- 

 pear to be singularly conservative, and this is especially true of 

 the Turkey, which differs but little from the wild ancestor. 



While the precise origin of a large number of these breeds 

 is unknown, in others the evolution thereof can be traced step 

 by step, each change having been effected in response to the 

 demands of the show-pen. In many cases, in striving after 

 some ideal either in size, colour, markings or length of leg, 



