64 Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 



black- flesh-fowl. Kuhda means cock (or fowl taken as a whole) ; 

 kikili, hen ; kukulo, plural, fowls. 



The ingenious and learned author of ' Ornamental and Do- 

 mestic Poultry*/ at page 392, second edition, refers to these 

 fowls as having silky feathers, but with us in Ceylon this is not 

 the case. 



The Frizzled or Friesland Fowl, of the same author 

 (p. 394), is also domesticated in Ceylon, but it is rare ; the 

 Cingalese called it Capri-kukulo, and say it was originally im- 

 ported from Batavia. This accords with Temminck's statements. 



The Rumpless Fowl, or Rumkin (ibid. p. 387), is also plen- 

 tiful, but only in a domestic state. Temminck's assertion that 

 it is a wild inhabitant of the island is surely a mistake, and the 

 Governor (Loten, I presume) who forwarded him the information 

 must have been deceived by some head-man or other. I am 

 quite confident the bird does not exist wild in Ceylon ; the very 

 native name, " Cochi-kukulo," Cochin-fowl, implies its foreign 

 character. 



The Cochin China Fowl (ibid. p. 289) and Malay Fowl 

 (p. 299) are both found in Ceylon ; the former is called Maha- 

 cochi-kukulo, or " large Cochin Fowl," and is common enough. 

 I have purchased them for 7^d. each, while residing at Pt. 

 Pedro ; I mention this as a contrast to the absurd prices given 

 in England. The Malay fowl is principally found about the 

 lines of the native regiment of Ceylon Rifles ; they belong to the 

 Malays, and are used in fighting, a sport of which that people, 

 as well as the Cingalese and Tamuls, are passionately fond. I, 

 however, never saw the true game cock in Ceylon. 



Creepers (p. 384) are frequently met with ; their curiously 

 short legs at once distinguish them from the common breed. 

 One variety has feathered legs, but I never met with true 

 Bantams. 



The Poland or Polish Fowl (p. 364) was introduced many 

 years ago by a relative of my own, the original birds having been 

 procured from my father. 



I am not sufficiently acquainted with all the varieties of 

 domestic fowls to state if other kinds are found in the island ; 

 probably some which I have called " common fowls " may be 

 more valuable varieties. 



* Published at the office of the ' Gardeners' Chronicle,' London. 

 [To be continuefl.] 



