414 
ON THE OllIGIN OF 
its detailed description exists in several recent works on 
natural history, I shall merely observe, that it bears a very 
close resemblance to some of our domestic varieties, with 
which it also agrees in size, being much less than the Su- 
matran species, now before the Society. The female of the 
Bankiva cock is much less than the male. Her head is 
furnished with a very small comb, and her chin with very 
short wattles. There is a bare space around the eyes ; the 
throat is also nearly bare, but in part covered with small 
feathers distant from each other, and between which the red 
skin is clearly visible. 
The character by which the Bankiva cock and hen differ 
most strongly from domestic poultry, consists in the form 
and direction of the tail, which, in this wild species, is al- 
most horizontal, and nearly vaulted, instead of being carried 
upright, and composed of two planes. This discrepancy, 
however, instead of forming a serious objection to the iden- 
tity of these species, is, I think, easily accounted for by the 
different habits of the birds themselves. The magnificent 
plumage, which adds so much both of grace and dignity to 
the domestic breed, is partly an artificial character, result- 
ing from that greater luxuriance of growth which never 
fails to follow a superabundant diet, and a life of idle in- 
dulgence. Nor have I the slightest doubt, from what I 
have more than once had an opportunity of observing, even 
in regard to our common poultry, that, if individuals of 
the domestic race were left to shift for themselves among 
the remnants of one of our ancient forests, the first change 
observable, as a consequence of the altered habits of their 
descendants, would be a decrease in the size and vertical 
position of the tail, which would gradually assume a nar- 
rower, more horizontal, and, if I may be allowed the ex- 
pression, a more pheasant-like form and aspect. This 
change, in fact, would result almost mechanically from the 
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