V°'- '^'•1 From Magazines, &c. 14^ 



1907 J O J ^-J 



Spolia Zeylonica. Great difficulties were experienced, chiefly in 

 the direction of securing wild birds and taming them sufficiently 

 to be kept in enclosed runs. " Attempts have been made to pro- 

 duce the hybrids both ways- z>.,by mating the jungle cock with 

 domestic hens, and by the domestic cock with jungle hens. The 

 latter way was a complete failure. On the whole, it was found 

 that the jungle cocks seemed to be more amenable in captivity 

 than the jungle hens." Many of the wild birds died within 

 a few weeks after they were captured, generally about the 

 fiftieth day. Eggs taken from the wild hen's nest hatched 

 badly. After many trials, some of the jungle cocks were secured 

 and kept alive long enough to be bred from. They would, how- 

 ever, only consort with one hen, as they are monogamous. 



Seven different matings with hybrids took place, the results 

 of which are very suggestive. From the crossing of the jungle 

 cock with domestic hens several of the hybrids of both sexes 

 were reared, which were utilized for further experiments. First, 

 between a hybrid cock and domestic hen. In every case fertile 

 eggs have been produced and strong, healthy chickens hatched 

 out. Secondly, a hybrid cock with a hen produced from the 

 first lot, which may be said to be one-fourth jungle and three- 

 fourths domestic. This also proved successful, as chickens were 

 reared. The test of the experiment was mating a hybrid cock 

 with a hybrid hen, for if that could be achieved the question 

 would be settled in favour of the Ceylon Jungle-Fowl being 

 regarded as a parent stock. It was failure in this direction that 

 led Darwin to his conclusion. To that extent the great naturalist 

 has proved correct, as not a chicken has been obtained from this 

 mating. " Each hen has laid several clutches of eggs, and the 

 eggs have been incubated by the hybrids themselves and by 

 other hens, but no chicks. The great majority of the eggs have 

 been infertile; only in one or two instances have two or three of 

 the eggs been addled, which points to the egg having been 

 fertilized." Other experiments gave the same results, but when- 

 ever the jungle or hybrid cock was mated with a wholly or 

 partly domestic hen chicks were obtained. " The mating of the 

 domestic male with jungle female gives a negative result. That 

 of the jungle male and domestic female gives the hybrids, male 

 and female. The hybrid female mated back to the jungle cock 

 gives negative results," as does the mating of the two hybrids. 



This valuable and interesting experiment, which it may be 

 hoped will be continued on a more extended scale, proves that 

 the hybrids will breed under certain conditions, and would 

 indicate that the Ceylon Jungle-Fowl has probably exerted some 

 influence. But it does not afford sufficient evidence to lead us 

 as yet to accept it in any way as responsible for our races of 

 domestic fowls. That opens a wider question which has not 

 been touched. — Tlie Times, 28th September, 1906. 



