Sir, The
accompanying Illustration
depicts one of a hatch of
Plymouth Rock chickens,
bred by Mr. A. B----- of
468 Birchfield Road, Perry
Barr, "sitting of eggs being
purchased locally."
As will
be seen the freak has four
legs-two in the normal
position and two others
protruding from its back a
little to the rear of the
natural position of the
wings one on either side.
Another
peculiarity about the bird
is that it has four wings.
Nature in this case has less
regard for symmetry even
than in the case of the
legs, about which there is
some semblance of regularity
in the position.
Although
the chick is provided with a
pair of wings in the normal
position a second pair
shows, one about the middle
of the back and another on
the breast.
It's bill
also is contrary to the
usual order of things, the
shorter (or under-part in
the normal bird) portion
being at the top, and the
longer part at the bottom.
The freak
did not long survive it's
escape from the egg, being
found dead in the nest on
the morning's first
expectant examination. The
owner of the curiosity has
had it set up.
This article is stated to be
from Sept. 30th 1905, I have
no assurance of it's
authority.
