Sex dimorphism in the syrinx of the fowl

✍ Scribed by Fred W. Appel

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1929
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 925 KB
• Volume: 47
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0362-2525
• DOI: 10.1002/jmor.1050470207

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

This study concerns the voice box or syrinx of the fowl in its possible relation to sex. Although neither hens nor capons crow, ovariotomized hens have been known to do so. It appears that a slight sexual dimporphism exists in the syrinx of certain fowls, and it was thought that a particular form might be essential to the act of crowing. However, no sexual dimorphism is apparent in the syrinx of the Brown Leghorn fowl.

The syringeal structures of crowing birds (cocks and ovariotomized females) contain no features which cannot be demonstrated in normal females. Variations were found in the syrinx in this breed and in other breeds, but they had nothing to do with sex. There is a gradual ossification with increasing age and size. It may be concluded that there is no apparent reason why the female fowl should not crow, provided it had the instinct to do so properly developed. The sex hormones, if they act in voice production, must act entirely through the conditioning of the central nervous system.