BANKIVA COCK. 199 



black. (Female grey-brown and yellowish, with the comb 



and wattles smaller than in the male.) 

 Gallus Bankiva. Temm. Gall. Ind. 654* 

 Coq et Poule Bankiva. Temm. Pig. et Gall. 8. 8/. 



TEMMINCK considers this species to be the 

 origin of our domestic poultry; but I cannot 

 assent to his arguments, as they do not appear to 

 be sufficient to warrant his assertion, and it is much 

 better (in all cases where proofs cannot be ob- 

 tained) to consider differing individuals as distinct 

 species, than run the hazard of connecting what 

 nature has not joined together : however, this is 

 thus described by that celebrated ornithologist. 

 " In form and colour it greatly resembles that race 

 of poultry called Bantams and Turkish Cocks ; the 

 only character that separates it from these is, that 

 it carries its tail somewhat horizontal and arched, 

 whereas in those it is considerably elevated, and 

 forms two vertical planes : the feathers which 

 adorn the neck are long, with their webs disunited, 

 and towards their tips somewhat extended and 

 rounded: the head, the neck, and the whole of 

 the elongated feathers of the back, which reach to 

 the rump, are of a bright orange, or fiery colour : 

 the top of the back, the lesser and middle wing- 

 coverts, are of a beautiful purple-chesnut ; the 

 greater coverts are black, with green reflections : 

 the quills and secondary feathers are of a rusty red 

 on their outer edges, and black on their inner: 

 the breast, the belly, the thighs, the abdomen, and 

 the tail are black, with green-gold reflections : 



