Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithologij of Ceylon. 63 



seen alone, seldom in company with their hens, who, however, 

 are always in the neighbourhood, and keep together, even 

 though their broods may be of very different ages. 



The cocks fight most desperately in defence of their seraglios, 

 the combat frequently terminating in the death of one of the 

 engaged parties. As they not unfrequently mingle with the 

 fowls of the lonely villages, they cross with the domestic breed, 

 being more than a match in courage for the plebeian dunghill 

 cocks, and armed with tremendous sharp spurs. 



Mr. Mitford, of the Ceylon Civil Service, showed me, while 

 at Ratnapoora, a hybrid hen ; her general appearance and call 

 much resembled that of the wild bird ; her eggs also partook of 

 the spotted character, but Mr. Mitford never succeeded in rearing 

 any chicks from them, as they were always addled. The bird 

 was very tame to those with whom she was acquainted, but fled 

 precipitately at the approach of strangers. 



The hen selects a decaying stump or thick bush for a nesting 

 place, and lays from six to twelve eggs, of a fine rich cream 

 colour, finely mottled with reddish brown specks. Axis 1 in. 

 9 lines; diam. 1 in. 4 lines. The young when just hatched 

 Vesemble young chickens, and th^ old mother leads them to 

 decaying prostrate trees, and scratches for white ants, which 

 they eagerly devour. They are hatched in June. 



In wet weather, Jungle fowl keep much to thick trees, sitting 

 disconsolately with drooping head and tails among the branches ; 

 they also roost in trees at night, retiring to rest early. It 

 is rarely that a bird can be flushed, but when they do fly, it ;is 

 very much in the manner of the pheasant ; they run with inr 

 credible swiftness, and trust to their powers in this respect for 

 safety. Their cry is a short crow, which resembles the words 

 " George Joyce," sharply repeated. 



It may not be out of place here, while upon the subject of 

 Jungle fowl, to mention the varieties of domestic breeds which 

 are found in the island. 



The usual kind is the common fowl, which is considerably less 

 than the English breed, and lays a much smaller e^^ ; it runs 

 through all the same variations of plumage ; but there is one 

 curious variety, which I cannot describe more aptly than by 

 comparing it to a white fowl drawn down a sooty chimney. On 

 preparing one of these fowls for the table, at which, by the way, 

 they excel all others in flavour and tenderness, the skin and peri- 

 osteum are found nearly black ; the roof of the mouth, tongue, 

 wattles, and legs are also of a deep leaden hue. It is a remark- 

 able fact, that a male bird of the pure sooty variety is almost as 

 scarce as a tortoi.^e-shell tom-cat. 



The Cingalese call these fowls " Cnlho-mas-kukulo/* literally 



