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 chief breed
includes differently coloured sub-varieties, most of which can be truly
propagated, but it would be superfluous to describe them. I have classed
the various crested fowls {226} as sub-breeds under the Polish fowl; but I
have great doubts whether this is a natural arrangement, showing true
affinity or blood relationship. It is scarcely possible to avoid laying
stress on the commonness of a breed; and if certain foreign sub-breeds had
been largely kept in this country they would perhaps have been raised to
the rank of main-breeds. Several breeds are abnormal in character; that is,
they differ in certain points from all wild Gallinaceous birds. At first I
made a division of the breeds into normal and abnormal, but the result was
wholly unsatisfactory.

[Illustration: Fig. 30.--Spanish Fowl.]

1. GAME BREED.--This may be considered as the typical breed, as it
deviates only slightly from the wild _Gallus bankiva_, or, as perhaps
more correctly named, _ferrugineus_. Beak strong; comb single and
upright. Spurs long and sharp. Feathers closely adpressed to the body.
Tail with the normal number of 14 feathers. Eggs often pale-buff.
Disposition {227} indomitably courageous, exhibited even in the hens
and chickens. An unusual number of differently coloured varieties
exist, such as black and brown-breasted reds, duckwings, blacks,
whites, piles, &c., with their legs of various colours.

2. MALAY BREED.--Body of great size, with head, neck, and legs
elongated; carriage erect; tail small, sloping downwards, generally
formed of 16 feathers; comb and wattle small; ear-lobe and face red;
skin yellowish; feathers closely adpressed to the body; neck-hackles
short, narrow, and hard. Eggs often pale buff. Chickens feather late.
Disposition savage. Of Eastern origin.

3. COCHIN, OR SHANGAI BREED.--Size great; wing-feathers short, arched,
much hidden in the soft downy plumage; barely capable of flight; tail
short, generally formed of 16 feathers, developed at a late period in
the young males; legs thick, feathered; spurs short, thick; nail of
middle toe flat and broad; an additional toe not rarely developed; skin
yellowish. Comb and wattl