CHAPTER XXIV. 
THE ORIGIN OF THE DOMESTICATED VARIETIES OF FOWLS. — THE JUNGLE FOWLS. 
T here is perhaps no subject in the whole range of poultry literature, on which 
more absolute nonsense has been written than on the origin of the different 
breeds of our domesticated poultry. In place of making any accurate scientific 
investigation into the facts of the subject, the majority of writers on poultry have 
adopted certain theories, and endeavoured to prove them by the most ridiculous 
statements, which they have gravely put forward as truth. If any naturalist 
wishes to read the absurd fancies of the compilers of treatises on poultry, we 
would advise him to turn to the chapter on The Wild Fowls of India,” in Messrs. 
Wingfield and Johnson’s Poultry Book. 
It is there stated that the Kulm cock of India, or St. Jago fowl, the Gallus 
(jiganteus of Temminck (a breed which is a domesticated variety nowhere existing 
in a wild state), is one of the races of wild Galli, to be regarded as the forefathers 
of our poultry yard. 
We are also informed that ‘Hhe Jungle fowl consists of two distinct species,” 
the Bengal Jungle fowl, and the Sonnerat Jungle fowl, and that the Gallus 
Stanleyi (which is in reality the wild fowl of Ceylon, and a perfectly distinct 
species), is a variety of Sonnerat’ s fowl.” 
Although Jungle fowls are said to be of two distinct species, the writers state 
that many of our present breeds of fowls may have been derived from these 
four species — Gallus glganteus, Gallus Sonneratii, Gallus furcatus, and Gallus 
Banldva, we have little doubt. But still these are not necessarily to be regarded 
as the sole ancestors.” 
After this definite statement, one would hardly expect to find on the same 
page that Gallus furcatus seems to possess no tie that might connect it 
with our domestic race.” Such are the blunders of compilers who write on 
subjects on which they are perfectly ignorant. Amongst other ridiculous state- 
ments in the same chapter, is one that the Black-red Game is descended from the 
Bengal Jungle fowl, and the Duckwing from the Sonnerat, the authors, or 
rather compilers, ignoring three facts, the knowledge of either of which would 
show the absurd nature of their theory : first, that the hybrid Sonnerat s are 
almost always sterile ; second, that they possess the peculiarly flattened shaft to the 
feather, which so strikingly distinguishes the Sonnerat cock, and which is absent 
in every domestic variety ; and last, that Black-red Game fowls may be bred from 
Duckwings, Duck wings from Black-reds ; in fact these birds are habitually reared 
