DOMESTIC FOA\r.S. 423 



•The Javanese Jimgle-fowl* shows by its name from whence it is derived. It is about 

 the size of an ordinary bantam, and resembles, in its plumage, tlie black-breasted red 

 game-bird of Britain, witli a raai'k of steel-blue across tlie wings. It has a high comb, 

 with a deeply serrated edge, and the wattles are rather large. The long hackle feathers 

 . of the neck and rump are of a glossy orange colour ; the shoulders are of a chestnut-red ; 

 the greater wing-coverts of a dark steel-blue ; the quill-fcathcrs of a brownish-black, 

 edged with pale reddish-j'ellow ; and the black tail has metallic reflexions of green and 

 blue. The under parts are black. The nuked space round the eyes, the wattles, and the 

 comb, are scarlet. The hen is vcrj' much smidler than a brown hen, though between the 

 two there is a strong resemblance. These birds interbreed with our common poultry, 

 and the progeny is fertile. 



The Common Jimgle-fowl of continental India, called Sonnerat's Jungle-fowl,t inhabits 

 the woods ; it exceeds in size the Baukiva jungle-fowl, and is very beautiful both in 

 s'vmmetry and plumage. The ^lussulman natives of India, who eagerly engage in the 

 barbarous sport of cock-fighting, highl}' prize this bird for its great courage and deter- 

 mination. It is, however, easily domesticated. 



According to Colonel Sykes, this bird is very abundant in the woods of the western 

 Ghauts, where there are either two species or two very strongly marked varieties. In 

 the valleys, about 2,000 feet above the "sea, Sonnerat's species is found, standing high on 

 the legs, and with the j-ellow cartilaginous spots on the feathers, even in the female. 



In the belts of woods on the sides of the mountains, at the elevation of 4,000 feet 

 above the sea, there is a short-leggedt variety ; the male has a great deal of red in his 

 plumage, which Sonnerat's has not ; the female is of a reddish-brown colour, and is 

 without cartilaginous spots at all. Colonel Sykes shot a hen upon her nest, in which 

 were only three eggs, and the process of incubation had evidently commenced some 

 days. 



This is indeed a splendid species. The comb of the male is large, and has its margin 

 serrated ; the wattles are rather ample ; the hackles of the neck and lower part of the 

 back, and the wing-coverts on the shoulders, have the shafts expanded into a thin horny 

 plate, of a bright golden-yellow, with a rich metallic gloss. These plates vary in shape, 

 being in some feathers angular, and in others oval, or almost circular. The plumage on 

 the middle of the back, the breast, and under parts generally, is a deep gray, each feather 

 having a paler margin. The tail is of deep, rich, glossy green, with varied metallic 

 reflexions ; the bill and legs yellow. The females are smaller than the males, of a rich 

 brown colour, beautifully speckled and marbled with darker penciUings. _ Neither combs 

 nor wattles are verj" apparent. 



To these birds Captain Skinner, in his " Excursions in India," alludes when he says : 

 " In some parts of the forest we saw several jungle-fowl; they have the same habits as 

 the domestic poultry ; the cock struts at the head of his hens, and keeps a strict watch 

 over their safety. AVhenever they were disturbed by our attempts upon them, he flew 

 to the highest branch of some tree bej'ond our reach, and crowed with all his might, 

 while his dames ran into holes and corners to escajie our attacks ; they Avere so 

 cimning, that we fotmd it impossible to get within shot of them, with all the caution 

 we could use." 



It appears, however, that a greater degree of caution maj^ ensure success. Por if the 

 sportsman will ascertain from successive cries the way the birds walk, and then hurry 

 through the cover, by a circuitous route, so as to intercept them, he will not be likely to 

 fail. Still, no little tact is necessary ; for the slightest stir is sufiicient to discover the 

 sportsman ; if this be done, the crowing ceases, and they are off at a hopeless rate. 



* Gallus Bankiva. t Gallus Sonneratii. 



