Chap. VII. FOWLS: DESCRIPTION OF BEEEDS. 225 



CHAPTER VII. 



FOWLS. 



BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CHIEF BREEDS — ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF THEIR 

 DESCENT FROM SEVERAL SPECIES — ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF ALL THE BREEDS 

 HAVING DESCENDED FROM GALLUS BANKIVA — REVERSION TO THE PARENT-STOCK 



IN COLOUR — ANALOGOUS VARIATIONS — ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE FOWL 



EXTERNAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SEVERAL BREEDS — EGGS — CHICKENS 



SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS — WING- AND TAIL- FEATHERS, VOICE, DISPOSI- 

 TION, ETC. — OSTEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES IN THE SKULL, VERTEBRA, ETC. — 

 — EFFECTS OF USE AND DISUSE ON CERTAIN PARTS — CORRELATION OF GROWTH. 



As some naturalists may not be familiar with the chief breeds 

 of the fowl, it will be advisable to give a condensed descrip- 

 tion of them. 1 From what I have read and seen of specimens 

 brought from several quarters of the world, I believe that 

 most of the chief kinds have been imported into England, but 

 many sub-breeds are probably still here unknown. The follow- 

 ing discussion on the origin of the various breeds and on their 

 characteristic differences does not pretend to completeness, but 

 may be of some interest to the naturalist. The classification 

 of the breeds cannot, as far as I can see, be made natural. 

 They differ from each other in different degrees, and do not 

 afford characters in subordination to each other, by which they 

 can be ranked in group under group. They seem all to have 

 diverged by independent and different roads from a single type 

 Each chief breed includes differently coloured sub-varieties, most 

 oi which can be truly propagated, but it would be superfluous 

 to describe them. I have classed the various crested fowls 



» I have drawn up this brief synopsis likewise assisted me in every possible 



from various sources, but chiefly from way in obtaining f ' I P ° SS * DJe 



Nation given ™ by M, ^Teget- a J ^Z'l'l^^TtZ 



meier. This gentleman has kindly opportunitv ™ oa Su * 



.octal tough tae whole of «. ^ afCl^C JS tf££l 



be fully trusted. M, TegeLie,- ha" USS^^' """ "" "* ° f 



VOL. I. 



Q 



