Atavism in Guinea-Chicken Hybrids igs 
marking although the color contrasts are too slight to be shown 
by the camera. However, since one finds on many of the wing 
coverts of Gallus ferrugineus a very close approximation to this 
scapular marking of P. chalcurus, a feather from Gallus has been 
chosen for purposes of photography (Fig. 7, Plate III). While 
the color contrast even in it is not pronounced, still one can read- 
ily make out a narrow, light colored border, then a narrow, black 
zone running the full length of the web on either side, and within 
this still further indications of alternating light and dark zones. 
The transverse nature of the bands is still faintly in evidence near 
the tip of the feather. The striping or lacing is really much more 
in evidence in the females of Gallus sonneratii and particularly 
of Gallus varius, but G. ferrugineus has been chosen for illustra- 
tion because of its presumably closer relationship to domestic 
fowls. 
The black mottling on various other feathers of Gallus ferrugi- 
neus is very similar also to that of certain feathers of Polyplectron 
chalcurus. Taking all in all, one can see how the color markings 
of the former could have been derived from a more primitive type 
such as apparently exists in the latter. 
That Gallus is considerably in advance of Polyplectron chalcu- 
rus seems evident when one takes into account the increased orna- 
mentation and specialization of the plumage of even the female of 
Gallus, to say nothing of the head ornaments (comb, wattles, 
etc.) and other special features of the male. Still other primi- 
tive characteristics of P. chalcurus are the prevailing reddish 
brown color on the breast; and the simple condition of the irides- 
cence of the tail. Again, should be noted the tendency for the 
shaft of many of the feathers of the back and ventral surface of the 
body to be light colored although in certain regions they may be 
darker. They vary from a reddish yellow to a deep mahogany. 
The light color of the rachis is much more in evidence in the jungle 
fowl, especially the female, and is also a frequent occurrence in 
most pheasants. In fact considering the evidence as a whole one 
is inclined to believe that as regards color pattern at least Poly- 
plectron chalcurus stands very near the ancestral form whence 
sprang the Phasianine. 
