CEYLON JUNGLE FOWL. 165 
The subject of the variation of the Ceylon Jungle Fowl needs 
investigation. The distribution of this bird is so circumscribed 
that there is but little scope for variation. The Gallus bankiva, 
on the other hand, ranges from Cape Comorin to the Himalayas, 
from far western India to Burma, across Siam to the Straits: it 
is not surprising therefore that it varies considerably in size and 
colouring according to variations in soil and climate. The Gallus 
Stanleyi has little opportunity for such marked variation. There 
is, however, some difference between the birds of the north 
and of the south. In the latter region the hens are very much 
darker than in the north ; and the cocks up north are of a more 
brilliant and lighter red. But all this is mere deviation in tint 
and not a marked mutation, such as would be a cock with a black 
breast. It would appear that Gallus Stanleyi practically never 
mutates from the standard pattern, and apparently but very rarely 
sports. 
In this connection the following extracts from letters which I 
have received from Mr. Walter Price, dated Kandy, June 19 and 
21, are of interest :— 
‘“TIt may interest you to learn that there is or was until lately 
a white jungle fowl hen to be seen in company with other ordinary 
jungle fowl at a place on the Anuradhapura-Puttaiam read, 
about 14 miles from Anuradhapura.* When I saw it first I 
mistook it for a paddy bird and it would have escaped identifi- 
cation as a jungle fowl if it had not been in the company of 
another pair. I got quite close to it and saw that it was 
undoubtedly a jungle hen, almost pure white except for a few gray 
feathers on the neck and head. Mr. Vigors, the Government Agent, 
saw the same bird shortly afterwards at the same place. At the 
time I saw this bird I was not aware that such a variation in 
colour was so uncommon, or I might have made an exception to 
my general principle of sparing curiosities. Both Mr. Vigors and 
I thought it would be better to leave it where it was to see if it 
would have any effect on the colour of the other birds about that 
locality. Downin the south of Sabaragamuwa and in Hambantota 
there is an inclination for the birds to be brown, especially the 
hens, which are very dark, in many cases with black spots on 
tail and wings. The tendency in the open scrub country of the 
Northern Province and in Tamankaduwa, in the North-Central 
Province, is for the birds to be red in colour; the cocks of course 
always have a lot of red about them, but it is more brilliant and 
lighter up north, and exactly to the same extent is the hen 
light in colour. I suppose it is the same influence which makes 
the wandaroo monkey almost black down south, while he is almost 
white up north.” 

* Between Sinharagama and Kala-oya, 
leh. 8(1)07 
