[ HO ] 



Mexico, which happened in 1527, whilft Gyllius's work' was 

 publifhed in 1533? It is highly probable alfo, that this affer- 

 tion was made many years before it appeared in print. 

 • There is another very decifive circumfbnce with regard to 

 his meaning, either to refer to the Eaft Indies by Novus 

 Qfii'Sj or otherwife being miftaken in fuppofing that the birds 

 came from America, which is, that the cock is defcribed to be 

 of the dark colour obferved commonly in w 7 ild birds, whilft the 

 hen was white. 



Now fuch a change of colour arifes from birds and other 

 animals being long domefticated and pampered; nor can it pro- 

 bably be produced in fo fhort a fpace of time as eight years, 

 allowing their importation from America as early a date as 

 poffible. 



Whilft birds remain in a wild ftate, the leafl deviation from 

 the common plumage becomes a phenomenon, and is deponted 

 in the MuP.urns of the curious; but the conftant fupply of pala- 

 table food, together perhaps with a better protection from the 

 inclemencies of the weather, produces daily varieties in all our 

 poultry, as it does in Canary birds e . 



I mail now urge another argument of fome prefumption 

 againft, the Mexican claim. Wherever birds are found indige- 



e The darker colour in all wild birds, and which confequently are not 

 protected by man, is a moft providential circumftance againft their being 

 difcovered by their numerous enemies. In birds of the gayeft plumage 

 therefore, the young of both fexes do not afTurne their bright and glofty 

 feathers, till the third year* nor does the female at any age, who would 

 be otherwife feen whilft fitting. No colour, however, points out a bird 

 fo much to it's purfuers as that of white ; and Columella, for that rea- 

 fon, advifes againft the white breed of chickens, as being more eafily 

 feen by hawks. De Re Ruftica, 1. viii. c. 2» As for the Ptarmigan, it 

 is an exception which proves the juftice of the general obfervacion, be- 

 caufe it becomes white only, when the ground is covered with fnow. 



nous^ 



