156 Mr. Blyth^s Commentary 



ing-season, and its replacement by short blackish feathers, both 

 in G.ferrugineus and G. sonnerati, as also in some domestic chan- 

 ticleers. G. temmincki, Gray {P. Z. S. 1849, pi. 7 & 8), I consider 

 to be most decidedly a hybrid between G.varius and the Domestic 

 Fowl, as is likewise the G. ceneus, Temminck, the hybrid vary- 

 ing according to the breed or colouring of its domestic parent. 



There surely is no fact more encouraging to the promoters of 

 ac(!limatization than that the Common Fowl, which is indigenous 

 to some of the hottest parts of Asia and its islands, should now 

 be so generally diffused (in its domestic state) over the world, 

 being reared even within the Arctic circle. The same remark 

 applies almost as strongly to the Indian Peafowl. Indeed it 

 would seem that all of the typical Gallinacea are disposed to 

 thrive in temperate climates, requiring little or no protection 

 from the weather (unless at night) so long as they are adequately 

 supplied with food. But the Himalayan Pheasants do not live 

 long in captivity in the warm plains of India. I suspect that 

 the different Jungle-fowls would prove as hardy as the common 

 Pheasant if turned loose into English woods. They have a vi- 

 gorous flight when they do rise, and show to much advantage on 

 the wing*. 



" Fowls are found wild in the unfrequented parts of the island 

 of Tahiti, which appear to be specilically the same with \i. e. 

 similar to] those held in a state of domestication by the natives 

 at the time of their discovery by Europeans, and continued to 

 the present day" (T. R. Peale). ''The cock domesticated in 

 the Philippine Islands, and (as was ascertained by the naturalists 

 of the Exploring Expedition in the ' Vincennes ' and ' Peacock ') 

 in the island of Tahiti also, is the nearest approach to the Jungle- 

 cock of India (G. hankiva) of any of the numerous domestic 

 varieties that have come under our notice. It appears, in fact, 

 to be quite unmixed with any other species [domestic race], 

 and differs only from the parent bird in being of larger size, 

 and in having the comb larger and more deeply serrated. All the 



* The Burmese Jungle-fowls loose about the Zoological Gardens in the 

 Regent's Park have withstood the past sevei'e winter (1866-67) remarkably 

 well, without any special protection being accorded to them. I am told 

 they always roost high upon the trees at night. Sonnerat's Jungle-fowl 

 proves to be less hardy, though a few have survived without shelter. 



