226 



FOWLS. 



Chap. Vii. 



as sub-breeds under the Polish fowl ; but I have great doubts 

 whether this is a natural arrangement, showing true affinity or 

 blood relationship. It is scarcely possible to avoid laying stress 

 on the commonness of a breed ; and if certain foreign sub-breeds 

 had been largely kept in this country they would perhaps have 

 been raised to the rank of main-breeds. Several breeds are 

 abnormal in character; that is, they differ in certain points 

 from all wild Gallinaceous birds. At first I made a division of 

 the breeds into normal and abnormal, but the result was wholly 

 unsatisfactory. 



Fig. 30.— Spanish Fowl. 



1. Game Bkeed.— This may be considered as the typical breed, as it 

 deviates only slightly from the wild Gallus bankiva, or, as perhaps more 

 correctly named, ferrugineus. Beak strong; comb single and upright. 

 Spurs long and sharp. Feathers closely adpressed to the body. Tail 

 with the normal number of 14 feathers. Eggs often pale buff. Disposition 



