172 INDIAN SPORTING BIEDS 



it affects hilly country, so long as water is accessible and there is 

 plenty of bamboo or tree-jungle, for it is essentially a woodland 

 bird, though it will come out into the open where there is cultiva- 

 tion in order to feed on the grain. Many of course never see 

 grain all their lives, and live entirely on wild seeds, herbage, 

 insects, &c. 



In Burma jungle-fowl are common both in the hills and plains, 

 and extend into Tenasserim and Sumatra. Even if the Burmese 

 and Malayan birds are truly wild, I quite agree with Hume that 

 the genuine aboriginal wildness of the red jungle-fowl found in 

 the East Indies beyond Sumatra is very doubtful. The very 

 distinct green jungle-fowl (Gallus varius) ranges from Java 

 to Flores, and looking to the distribution of jungle-fowl and 

 similar birds generally, it is very unlikely that the red species 

 originally lived alongside this bird. 



However, to consider more practical matters. This jungle-fowl 

 may be looked for anywhere in the limits above specified if the 

 country is suitable ; it avoids alike deserts and high cultivation, 

 and is generally absent from alluvial land, though quite common 

 in the Sundarbans. Here, however, it is suspected of being 

 an introduced bird, as it certainly is on the Cocos. 



The fowl since its domestication by man has added no new 

 note to its vocabulary : cackle, cluck and crow were its original 

 language. But whereas the tame cock is always credited with 

 saying "cock-a-doodle-doo," the wild bird's call is better ren- 

 dered " cock-a-doodle-don't," given in a shrill, aggressive falsetto. 

 Anyone who has heard a bantam crow knows exactly what I mean* 

 for the notes of bantam and wild cock are indistinguishable. 

 Like a bantam-cock, also, the wild bird will live quite happily 

 with a single hen, though this is not universal, and harems are 

 often found ; no doubtj as too often with his betters, polygamy is 

 simply a matter of opportunity with chanticleer, though even in 

 the tame state it is often obvious that he has a particular affec- 

 tion for one hen, as was noticed by Chaucer in his " Nonnes 

 Priestes Tale." Jungle-fowl of this species particularly affect 

 sal jungle where it exists, and in India are seldom found away 

 from it ; they roost on trees at night, and take to them in any case 

 rather more readily than pheasants. Their flight is also much like 



