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Show 224 DOMESTIC PIGEONS. CHAP. VI. vary at tho same time. When several breeds have o~ce b.eon formed, their intorcrossing aids the progress of modificatiOn, and has oven produced new sub-breeds. But as, in the construction of a building, mere stones or bricks are of little avail without the builder's art, so, in the production of now races, selection bas been the presiding power. Fanciers can act by selection on excessively slight individual differences, as well as on those greater differences which are called sports. Selection is followed methodically when the fancier tries to improve and modify a breed according to a prefixed standard of excellence; or he acts unmethodically and unconsciously, by merely trying to rear as good birds as he can, without any wish or intention to alter the breed. The progress of selection almost inevitably leads to the neglect and ultimate extinction of the earlier and lc s improved forms, as well as of many intermediate links in each long line of descent. Thus it bas come to pass that most of our present races are so marvellously distinct from each other, and from the aboriginal rock-pigeon. CIIAI'. Vll. FOWLS: D.ESCRil'TlO.N OF BREEDS. 225 CHAPThH VII. b'OWLS. BHIJ<iF DJ~S(JltJL"l'l0:-11; Ul•' 'J'liE Ullilll' llHEEDI:; - ARGUJ\lEN'l'!:i IN FAVOUR OF 'l'UEIH DESCJ~N'l' !·'110M HEVEI~AL SPECIES- AHOUMl!:NTS IN FAVOUR OF ALL 'l'IlE BllEEDS HAVING JlJ~~CENmm .I!'HOJ\1 GALLUt:! BANJ<IVA-REVERSION TO TilE PARENT-STOCK TN UOJ,OL'It - ANALOGOUS VAJUA'l'IONS- ANClENT HISTORY OF TilE FOWLEX~' Jc l{NAL Dn'J>EREN(!E.' BETWEEN •.rffE EVERAL BHEEDS - EGGS - ClJICKENS - SEUONIJAHY SEXUAL CHARACTERS- WINO- AND TAIL- FEA'fHEHS, VOICE, DISPOSI' I'TON, E'I'C. -· OS'l'EOLOOJCAL DIFFERENCES TN 'J'IIE ,'KULL, VEin'ElllllE, ETO.- EU'FE(J1'H OF USE AND DISUSE ON CEH'l'AIN PARTS- UORRELATION OF GROW'l'FI. As some naturalists may not be familiar with the chief breeds of the fowl, it will be advisable to give a condensed description 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 sub-breeds are probably still here unknown. 'fhe following discussion on the origin of the various breeds and on their characteristic differences does not pretend to completeness, but may be of some interest to the naturalist. The dassification of the breeds cannot, as far as I can see, be made natural. '_l1hey 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 rhief breed includes differently coloured sub-varieties, most of which can be truly propagated, but it would be superfluous to d scribe them. I have classed the various crested fowls 1 I have druwn up this brief synopsis from various sources, but chiefly from information given me 1 y Mr. Tcgctmcicr. 'l'ltis g ntlcmmt has kindly looked through the whole of this chapter; and from his well-known knowledge, the statemcuts here given may he fully trusted. Mr. 'l'cgetmcicr lias VOL. 1. likewi.·c us.-istcd me in every pos~ibl c way in obtaining for me information rwd specimens. I must not let this oppo.rtunity pn.-s witltout' rxprcssing my cm·Jml thanks to 1\fr. B. }">. Brent, a wcll-lmown writer on poultry, for indefatigable assistance and tlw gift of many specimens. |