Evening star., 1894-03-17
NOVELTIES AT THE MUSEUM.
The Ancestor of All Bsrnyard Fowls
Most Beautiful Bird in the World.

The Ancestor of All Barnyard Fowls
Most Beautiful Bird in the World.
There has been newly placed on exhibition
at the National Museum a specimen OF the
most valuable bird that the world has ever
known. 1t Is the so-called Jungle fowl" Of
India This feathe-ed creature was the
original ancestor of all the chickens known
to the barnyard. Just as all of the fancy
varieties Of pigeons have descended from
the unornamental "blue rock" have ell
kinds Of poultry been produced by breeding
from this original stock
1t was from India that the Chinese OBJ
tained the Jungle fowl originally, SO long
ago that the date is a matter OF doubtful
tradition with them They created many Of
the breeds which are best known today
and eventually these improved varieties
were transported from the nowery land to
the western world From America the
Chinese have since received In exchange
the turkey. which is now a popular bird
with the slant-eyed Orientals The p-i,uf-
tive jungle fowl. which still haunts the for
ests OF India, Is best described by saying
that II resembles IN all important RESPECTS
the black-breasted red game chicken The
latter is a reversion to the primitive type.
However, there is an important difference
In the voice. The crow Of the jungle fowl
is shrfll and small. This is for the reason
that it is dangerous for a bird to make
much noise in the woods. lest ii give notice
or Its presence to its enemies. It is on that
account that the female birds Of nearly an
species do not sing. There are some excep-
tons to this rule. but not many. 1t is upon
the females that the kind depends for its
perpetuation, and nature is always locking
out Tor that. The song of the males is a
cali TO attract the females.
Hens Egg Models.
Another exhibit. newly placed on view at
the museum. is a series of models showing
a hens in
cubation up to the time OF Matching. The
first model shows how the yolk is held
noating IN the white by means of two twist
ed strings Of modified albumen. which ex
tend from either end of the shell The
germinal vesicle" likewise appears Anv-
pody VINO breaks raw or soft-boiled egg
may see that for himself-a whitish bit of
telly-like substance attached to the side of
the yolk. In the second model which rep
resents the interior OF an egg after nfty
hours incubation, the rudimentary backbone
OF the chicken that is to be Is observed
After the seventh day gill-slits make their
appearance, giving evidence of a relation
ship between the fowl and the fish, and so
the series continues until the creature is
feathered and ready to emerge into the
world.
The Most Beautiful Bird.
Over at the Smithsonian building is ex-
hibited one particularly perfect specimen
of the most beautiful bird in the world
While its coloration is a. brilliant as that
OF any humming bird. its superior size rem
ders 1t more attractive to the eye This is
the 'Quezaf' of Guatemala Its plumage
vtes in brflliancy with the rainbow and
shines with metallic luster. Until within
the last few years il was unknown to sci
ence. mainly owing to the fact that 1t is
a hermit among feathered creatures, de-
lighting in the silence OF deserts. 1t dwells
on mountain heights above 1000 feet in
elevation.
The Quezal was the royal bird of the
Aztecs Its breast Is brilliant scarlet.
while Its green tail attains length of
three feet. Its size is about equal to a
pigeon. Its plumes were utilized anciently
for the adornment of head dresses and for
the famous feather pictures of the Mex
leans 1t nestles in holes in worm-eaten
trees. which It enlarges with its bill. SO
as to form a comfortable and roomy resi-
dence. The young are Matched totally
raked. 1t is the hardest of all birds TO
prepare for stufilng, because the skin tears
like SO much tissue paper. and the feathers
are implanted to so slight depth that
they readily fall out. specimen is very
apt to be spoiled by falling against a
branch on being shot.
Up to 1850 naturalists did not know
where the quezal was to be found. The
few specimens which had fallen into their
hands were obtained from the Indians of
Guatemala, who kept the secret About
that time, however. a collector visiting
that country, got en- the track, went uD
into the mountains and shot a number of
the birds. 1t is said that in ancient times
the skins of all birds of this snacies ,ho :
Were killed belonged by law TO the k,no
ana nobody outside Of the royal family W. =
permitted to wear the plumes The ouezaI
belongs to the family of trogons. Tbis
three Of which are American All of ,hes ~
are very beautiful '"eAi