August
15, 1978
Dear
Bill:
Many
thanks for your good letter. I was particularly interested in your thoughts on
making Brahma Bantams and in your experiment with Columbian Cochins (Pekins)
by the Light Sussex-Black Cochin cross. I can see where the resultant progeny
might well conform more to the Brahma than to the Cochin type, particularly in
view of the fact that the Light Brahma was almost certainly used in making the
Light Sussex, as, indeed, I believe it to have been responsible for all of the
Columbian varieties in the various breeds. In the same manner I believe the
Silver-Pencilled varieties all came from an original Dark Brahma cross.
As
you say, your best bet to breed in the pea comb would seem to be by use of the
Indian Game (we call them Cornish here) even though a hard-feather breed is
not desirable for such a cross. I presume you have White Indian Games in
Australia since both the Darks and Jubilees would bring in the red factor
which would be dangerous. I have been wondering if you have any pea-combed
games, either O.E. or Australian, in the Silver-Duckwing variety and whether,
if so, that might be a quicker way than by using Indians. The O. E. at least
would not have the whip tail.
As
to the origin of the Asiatics (if other than Gallus
Bankiva) we can always fall back on Temminck’s theory. I am sure I have
mentioned him to you before. An 18th century Dutch
naturalist, he was a proponent of the theory that the Asiatics (including the
Malays and their offshoots, Shamos, Tuzos, etc and the Asils) stemmed from a
different root. He attributed their ancestry to what he called Gallus
giganteus, a very large land bird incapable of flight.
He
cited a number of physiological differences skull formation, shorter intestine
etc. as a basis for his theory. I understand there have been absolutely no
fossil remains or other concrete evidence to back this belief; however, the
circumstantial evidence is strong. You have a copy of Tegetmeier’s Book
of Poultry, he goes into this question at some length. I believe the more
popular opinion is in favor of Darwin’s theory that the Jungle Fowl is the
single ancestor of all domestic chickens, although, again, many feel that the
Gray, as well as the Red Jungle Fowl is a factor.
Again,
many thanks for your treatise. I would love to have a copy of your final
revision. I have never read much on the subject and what little information I
had was to the effect that the Pekin Bantam had been developed in the Royal
Gardens at least several hundred years ago; that a few had been brought to
England and, through inbreeding and judicious crossing with Nankeen had been
brought to their present state of perfection.
I
know nothing about the Nankeen and have never, so far as I know, seen one. My
understanding is that they are a rather over-sized very dark buff or cinnamon
Bantam, single-combed and either clean legs or very sparse feathering. I also
understood that they were present in the make up of several different Bantam
varieties and that they (the Nankeens) had been known and kept, at least in
Great Britain, for a long, long time. It is always good to hear from you and
please let me know if I can be of any help whatever.
Sincerely,