The Descent of Man

laced plumage of the Sebright bantam is the
same in both sexes, and in the young chickens
the wing- feathers are distinctly, though imperfectly
laced. Spangled Hamburgs, however,
offer a partial exception; for the two sexes,
though not quite alike, resemble each other
more closely than do the sexes of the aboriginal
parent-species; yet they acquire their characteristic
plumage late in life, for the chickens are
distinctly pencilled. With respect to other characters
besides colour, in the wild-parent species
and in most of the domestic breeds, the
males alone possess a well-developed comb;
but in the young of the Spanish fowl it is largely
developed at a very early age, and, in accordance
with this early development in the male,
it is of unusual size in the adult female. In the
Game breeds pugnacity is developed at a wonderfully
early age, of which curious proofs
could be given; and this character is transmitted
to both sexes, so that the hens, from their
extreme pugnacity, are now generally exhibited