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ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 
The fact is, the domestication of wild fowls is exceedingly easy, as has 
been proved within the last three hundred years by the domestication of 
the wild turkey of America, ( rneleagris ) of which there are but two spe- 
cies known, M. Occellata, a native of Mexico and Honduras, and M. 
Gallopavo, from which our common domestic varieties have descended. 
Later the American wild goose, (anser canadensis ) , a distinct species from 
the gray legged goose of the North of Europe, and the supposed ancestor 
of the common white or gray goose, and the Embden or Bremen goose. 
Besides Europe and America, Asia and Africa havo furnished us with 
four sub-varieties of geese, three of which are called China geese, the 
fourth being the African or Hong Kong variety. 
Africa has also furnished us with the Guinea fowl,( N'umidia meleagns) 
called Pintado by the Spanish. It is a native of Northern Africa, waere 
it is still found wild in large numbers, in some parts. The Pea fowl, 
( pavo cristatus ) has also been known from the remotest antiquity and is 
often used by ancient writers as an emblem of pride and arrogance, and 
it may be added, what is also true of the arrogant and strutting turkey, 
it is as cowardly as it is arrogant and cruei. 
The pheasant may here be noticed as a breed long half domesticated, 
and yet never brought perfectly under the domestication of man. The 
probable reason for this is that like the Peacock, they have always been 
considered more ornamental than useful. There are four or five distinct 
and beautiful species, that as ornamental breeds in parks should be moie 
extensively bred than they are. . , , 
The Swan is another breed long known in history and yet which cannot 
be considered of special value, except as ornaments in artificial lakes in 
the parks and grounds of the wealthy. Their dying song is often quoted 
from classic literature ; so far no one has yet been charmed with its song 
in modern times, which may prove one of two conclusions, cither the 
ancients were satisfied with a very low order of vocality, or else the mod- 
ern taste for musical sounds has become too refined to appreciate tu® 
notes of the swan either in health or sickness. 
The duck seems to have been one of the most easily domesticated of 
fowls and if the varieties are not excessively multiplied, it is because they 
are not considered a delicacy, and comparatively little used as food. 
Nevertheless, we think them underestimated. Some varieties are very 
beautiful in plumage; they are handsome in the water, and their flesh la 
by no means to be despised. Among the most valuable varieties are the 
Aylesbury ducks, a prominent English breed, uu illustration of w ic 
we give. 
