264 FOWLS. 



Chap. VII. 



It may naturally be asked whether these remarkable modifications in the 

 form of the brain affect the intellect of Polish fowls ; some writers have 

 stated that they are extremely stupid, but Bechstein and Mr. Tegetmeier 

 have shown that this is by no means generally the case. Nevertheless 

 Bechstein 69 states that he had a Polish hen which "was crazy, and anxi- 

 ously wandered about all day long." A hen in my possession was solitary 

 in her habits, and was often so absorbed in reverie that she could be 

 touched ; she was also deficient in the most singular manner in the facultv 

 of finding her way, so that, if she strayed a hundred yards from her feeding- 

 place, she was completely lost, and would then obstinately try to proceed 

 in a wrong direction. I have received other and similar accounts of 

 Polish fowls appearing stupid or half-idiotic. 70 



To return to the skull. The posterior part, viewed externally, differs 

 little from that of G. bankiva. In most fowls the posterior-lateral process 

 of the frontal bone and the process of the squamosal bone run together 

 and are ossified near their extremities : this union of the two bones, how- 

 ever, is not constant in any breed ; and in eleven out of fourteen skulls 

 of crested breeds, these processes were quite distinct. These processes 

 when not united, instead of being inclined anteriorly as in all common 

 breeds, descend at right angles to the lower jaw; and in this case the 

 longer axis of the bony cavity of the ear is likewise more perpendicular than 

 in other breeds. When the squamosal process 'is free, instead of expanding 

 at the tip, it is reduced to an extremely fine and pointed style, of variable 

 length. The pterygoid and quadrate bones present no difference. The 

 palatine bones are a little more curved upwards at their posterior ends. 

 The frontal bones, anteriorly to the protuberance, are, as in Dorkings, very 

 broad, but in a variable degree. The nasal bones either stand far apart, 

 as in Hamburghs, or almost touch each other, and in one instance were 

 ossified together. Each nasal bone properly sends out in front two long- 

 processes of equal lengths, forming a fork; but in all the Polish skulls, 

 except one, the inner process was considerably, but in a variable degree, 

 shortened and somewhat upturned. In all the skulls, except one, the two 

 ascending branches of the premaxillary, instead of running up between 

 the processes of the nasal bones and resting on the ethmoid bone, are 

 much shortened and terminate in a blunt, somewhat upturned point. In 

 those skulls in which the nasal bones approach quite close to each other 

 or are ossified together, it would be impossible for the ascending branches 

 of the premaxillary to reach the ethmoid and frontal; bones; hence we 

 see that even the relative connection of the bones has been changed. 

 Apparently m consequence of the branches of the premaxillary and of the 

 inner processes of the nasal bones being somewhat upturned, the external 

 orifices of the nostrils are upraised and assume a crescentic outline. be c 



I must still say a few words on some of the foreign Crested breeds. The ob Se 



skull of a crested, rumpless, white Turkish fowl is very slightly protube- ^ 



rant, and but little perforated ; the ascending branches of the premaxillary ^ 



69 ' Naturgeschichte Deutschlands,' have received communications to a 



- r ^h ?' I 00 ' simUar eflfe ct from Messrs. Brent and 



The 'Field,' May 11th, 1861. I Tegetmeier. 



70 



