THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 81 



will seldom obtain more than half the number of the 

 proper " blue duns," the rest being either black or 

 white. The ohickens on the latter color, however, are 

 afterwards sprinkled with dun feathers. Perhaps the 

 original sort may have been either black or white, as 

 it is known that animals will, after many cross-breed- 

 ings, " ory baok." 



ANOMALOUS FOWLS. 



Anomalies have been called " finger points that point 

 the way to unsuspected truths." Hence the strange 

 irregularities which we often meet with in our do- 

 mestic fowls better deserve the attention of naturalists 

 than any favor of poultry keepers. They may safely 

 be pronounced worthless as a stock, and have a more 

 appropriate place in the menagerie or museum than 

 in the poultry yard or lawn. Just as well might "the 

 farmer propagate '' Manx cats," well known for the 

 peculiarity of having no tails, the " woolly horses," 

 (caballos chinos,) of Mexico, or the " wingless birds" 

 of New Zealand, as " frizzled," " rumpless," or 

 " negro" fowls. 



Among the monstrosities of the domestic fowl, 

 which are particularly cujious, and worthy of the atten- 

 tion of the student of nature, may be mentioned the 

 "rumkin," or tailless cock, [Gallus ecaudatus,) believed 

 at present to be found wild in the island of Ceylon ; and 

 the " silky" and " negro" fowls, with white silky plu- 

 mage, and with skin, combs, and bones which are black. 



RANGE AND DOMESTIC ACCOMODATION OF FOWLS. 



Whatever number or breed of fowls one may have 

 selected for keeping, provision must be made for their 

 comfort and safety. Those attached to houses in the 

 country, lead, in many respects, a happy life. They 

 have good air and plenty of room, and generally \vith 

 no lack of food. They wander about the farmyard, 

 the orchard, and the lawn, visit the adjacent gardens 



