SONNERAT'S WILD COCK. 335 



GALLUS SONNERATII, OR SONNERAT'S WILD COCK, 



( Vide Frontispiece.) 



HAS been dedicated by M. Temminck, to its discoverer. The 

 first notice we find of it which can be trusted, is in the voyage 

 to India, by that traveller. He was of the opinion that this 

 Wild Cock was the stock from which our Domestic Fowls are 

 derived. But this is scarcely possible ; for, not to speak of 

 the difference in size, the plumage is quite different; indeed, 

 none of the domestic races in India bear the least resemblance 

 to it. It has hitherto, so far as I know, proved un tameable. 

 A gentleman of my acquaintance, who was some ten years in 

 the British service in India, informs me that on the return 

 home, they had some two or three hundred " Wild Cocks," on 

 board, all of which refused to eat, and died in a few weeks 

 out. It is about two-thirds the size of our smallest Dunghill 

 Fowls; in model is much more slender and graceful; the 

 comb is single, large, slightly indented, and the wattles are 

 double, and well developed. But the most singular part of 

 this bird is its' plumage. The stem, or shaft of the long 

 hackle feathers is of a bright golden-orange hue, and, in the 

 centre, and at the tip, dilate into a flat horny plate, similar to 

 what is seen in the wings and tail of the Bohemian Wax- 

 wing. Their appearance is both singular and beautiful. 

 The centre of the back, the throat, breast, belly, and thighs 

 are of a deep and rich gray, having the shafts and edges of a 

 paler tint. The tail is of a rich and deep green ; and the beak, 

 legs, and feet are yellow. About the females, there is nothing 

 peculiar that may not be seen on inspection of the portraits, 

 which are from nature, and singularly faithful. Indeed, mi- 

 nute descriptions throughout the work has been rendered unne- 

 cessary by the distinguished artist. 



The peculiar structure of the neck-hackles of the Gallua 



