VEILLOT'S FlREBXCa.—ClalhphMis VeiUolii. 



proportion to its size, and so tierce and determined a combatant that tlie native sportsmen, 

 who set great store upon tightiug cocks, always prefer a Jungle Cock as their champion. 

 As in general appearance it is something like the domestic fowl, some persons have 

 supposed tJiat it is the stock from which our poultry were deiived. Tlie Bankiva Fowl, 

 however, is thouglit with more reason to bo the original progenitor of these useful birds. 

 The very pecidiar formation of the liackles affords a good reason for lielieviug tliat the 

 domestic fowl is n(jt the olfspring of Soimorat's Jungle Fowl. The webs of the hackles 

 and upper tail-coverts are dark grey, but their shafts are briglit orange, dilating in the 

 centre and at tlie tip into flat, shining horny plates of a brilliant orange hue, wliich give 

 a peculiar splendour to the plumage, and are discernible at a considerable distance, their 

 tips being rounded instead of lancet-shape. 



The voice of this bird is rather startling, for at first sight it looks so like a game-cock, 

 that its cniw strdvcs the car in a very absurd manner. Every one knows the ludicrous 

 attemjits made by a young cock to crow lii<e his elders ; how he breaks down just wlion 

 he tliinks lie is doing best, like a yming lad with a cracked voice, trying to talk witli a 

 manly intonation, and going unex]>ectedly from hoarse bass to sharpest treble. Give the 

 young cock a sliarp attack of wliooping-cough, and that will afford a tolerably good notion 

 of the crowing of this Jungle Fowl. 



Tlie head of tliis ])ird is adorned willi well-developed wallles, di>eply iintclied at the 

 tip. Tlie lieautiful hackles have already been described, with their flattened ends shining 

 like the g(dd coins gleaming on the dark tresses of Oriental beauties. The back and 

 lower portions of the body are deep grey, and the tail is long, arched, and beautifully 



