236 FOWLS. Chap. VII. 



CHAPTEE Til. 



FOWLS. 



BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CHIEF BKEEDS ABGUMENTS IN FAVOUB Of 



THEIR DESCENT FROM SEVERAL SPECIES — ABGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF .ALL 

 THE BREEDS HAVING DESCENDED FROM GALLFS BAXKIVA — REVERSION TO 

 THE PARENT-STOCK ES T COLOUK — ANALOGOUS VARIATIONS — ANCIENT 

 HISTORY OF THE FOWL — EXTERNAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SEVERAL 

 BREEDS — EGGS — CHICKENS — SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS — WING- AND 

 TAIL- FEATHERS, VOICE, DISPOSITION. ETC. — OSTEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES 

 IN THE SKULL. VERTEBRJ-. ETC. — EFFECTS OF USE AND DISUSE ON 

 CEKTAIN 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 Bub-breeds are probably still unknown here. The 

 following discussion on the origin of the various breeds and 

 on their characteristic differences dues not pretend to com- 

 pleteness, 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 of which can be truly propagated, but it 

 would be superfluous to describe them. I have classed the 

 various crested fowls as sub-breeds under the Polish fowl ; 



1 I have drawn up this brief sy nop- likewise assisted me in every possible 



sis from various sources, but chiefly way in obtaining for me information 



from information given me by 3Ir. and specimens. I mast not let this 



• ier. This gentleman has opportunity pass without ext 



kindly looked through this chapter; my cordial thanks to Mr. B. P. Brent, 



and from his well-known knowledge, a well-known writer on poultry, for 



the statements here given may be continuous assistance and the gift o/ 



fully trusted. Mr. Tegetmeier has many specimen*. 



