80 ZOOLOGY OF INDIA. 



or at least have not been as yet ascertained to exist within 

 our prescribed boundaries, we shall not enter into any details 

 of their history or habits.* But as the jungle-cock, from 

 its Indian locality, is a legitimate subject of disquisition, we 

 may add another circumstance which we consider as very 

 decisive against its alleged claims. The native tribe of In- 

 dians, inhabiting the districts where the jungle-cock abounds, 

 rear a breed of poultry which differs as much from the sup- 

 posed original as our own, and whiqh never intermingles 

 with the forest-brood. Perhaps nothing points out the dis- 

 tinction of species more strongly than this fact, of their not 

 seeking each other's society, when we know that even the 

 pheasant, a bird now regarded as pertaining to a different 

 genus, is frequently known to breed with the domestic hen. 



The most remarkable character of the jungle-cock consists 

 in the horny expansions of the central portion of the feathers 

 of the neck and wing-coverts. Its best-known localities are 

 among the mountains of the Ghauts in Hindostan. 



The genus LophophoriLs contains several splendid species, 

 of which the bird named the Impeyan-pheasant by Latham 

 {Loph. refulge7is of Temminck) is one. of the most remark- 

 able. The head is ornamented by a fine crest. The feathers 

 of the neck are long and loose, like the hackles of a cock. 

 The colours of the plumage are so exceedingly btilliant from 

 their metallic lustre, and so variable according to the direc- 

 tion of the light or the position of the spectator, that they 

 cannot be expressed by words ; and even the skill of the 

 most accomplished painter would in vain attempt to equal 

 the bright original. Purple, and green, and gold are the 

 prevailing hues. The female is smaller than the male, and 

 her plumage is destitute of metallic splendour. These birds 

 inhabit the mountains in the northern parts of Hindostan. 

 Though naturally wild, they are said to submit to confine- 

 ment with a tolerable degree of subservience. Lady Impey 

 endeavoured to transport them alive to England, but they 

 died on the passage. Were the attempt repeated, it would 

 prcibably ere long succeed ; for they endure cold well, 

 although impatient of extreme heat. The male was never 



*We allude more particularly to the Jago-cock of Sumatra (GaVus 

 gigantens), and to another species discovered some years ago by M. 

 Leschenault in the usland of Java, and which is called hy the natives ayarn 



i>a?i.Vu'a.— See M. Tomminck's Histcire des Gallinacis. 



