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Chap. VII. SEXUAL DIFFERENCES. 255 



all developed in Hennies. They are carried, together with the 

 whole tail, erect in Dorkings and Games ; but droop much in 

 Malays and in some Cochins. Sultans are characterised by an 

 additional number of lateral sickle-feathers. The spurs vary 

 much, being placed higher or lower on the shank; being ex- 

 tremely long and sharp in Games, and blunt and short in 

 Cochins. These latter birds seem aware that their spurs are 

 not efficient weapons ; for though they occasionally use them, 

 they more frequently fight, as" I am informed by Mr. Teget- 

 meier, by seizing and shaking each other with their beaks. In 

 some Indian Game-cocks, received by Mr. Brent from Germany, 

 there are, as he informs me, three, four, or even five spurs on 

 each leg. Some Dorkings also have two spurs on each leg; 53 

 and in birds of this breed the spur is often placed almost on the 

 outside of the leg. Double spurs are mentioned in the ancient 

 Chinese Encyclopaedia. Their occurrence may be considered as 

 a case of analogous variation, for some wild gallinaceous birds, 

 for instance, the Polyplectron, have double spurs. 



Judging from the differences which generally distinguish the 

 sexes in the Gallinacege, certain characters in our domestic 

 fowls appear to have been transferred from the one sex to the 

 other. In all the species (except in Turnix), when there is 

 any conspicuous difference in plumage between the male and 

 female, the male is always the most beautiful ; but in golden- 

 spangled Hamburghs the hen is equally beautiful with the cock, 

 and incomparably more beautiful than the hen in any natural 

 species of Gallus; so that here a masculine character has been 

 transferred to the female. On the other hand, in cuckoo Dorkings 

 and m other cuckoo breeds the pencilling, which in Gallus is a 

 iemale attribute, has been transferred to the male: nor, on the 

 Principle of analogous variation, is this transference surprising 

 as the males in many gallinaceous genera are barred or pen-' 

 Hied. With most of these birds head ornaments of all kinds 

 a^e more fully developed in the male than in the female; but 

 Polish fowls the crest or top-knot, which in the male replaces 

 e comb, is equally developed in both sexes. In certain sub- 

 Mr 3 b17^ J Ch 5 0nicl f'' Yo1 - i'P' 595 - the spurs in Dorkings, see 'Cottage 

 fact to«T* lnformed me of the same Gardener/ Sept. 18th, I860, p. 380. 

 «** With respect to the position of 



