ASIATIC FOWLS. 



THE MALAY FOWL. 



Martin gives the following description of the 

 Malay fowl : " The male in his natural atti- 

 tude often considerably exceeds two feet in 

 height, from the ground to the crown of his 

 head. The comb extends backward in a line 

 with the eyes ; it is low, thick, destitute of ser- 

 rations, and has the appearance as if its ridge 

 had been cut off. The wattles hanging from 

 the under mandible are small, and the throat 

 is bare. The neck is long and covered with 

 hackles of pale golden-reddish color, which ex- 

 tends to the upper part of the back. The mid- 

 dle of the back, and the lesser wing coverts are 

 of a deep chestnut, and the webs of the feathers 

 disunited ; the greater wing coverts are glossy 

 green ; the secondaries and quill feathers are of 

 a pale reddish -yellow on their outer webs. The 

 hackles of the rump are long and drooping, and 

 are of a pale reddish-yellow. The tail feathers 

 are of a glossy green. The under parts are gen- 

 erally of a glossy greenish-black, with high re- 

 flections, each feather being of a deep chestnut 

 at the base, producing somewhat of a mottled 

 appearance, especially if the plumage be a little 

 deranged. The body is stout and the legs are 

 long, but very robust. In proportion to the size 

 of the body, and length of the^ neck and limbs, 

 the head seems small, and is far from being 



pleasing in appearance, the curtailment of the 

 comb and wattles seeming of the result of in- 

 jury or malformation. The gait is heavy and 

 destitute of alertness, and the bird, as we have 

 frequently seen, often reposes resting on the 

 tarsi or shanks, their whole length being applied 

 to the ground. The attitude is uncouth, and 

 gives the idea of the bird being oppressed with 

 its own weight. It is very probable that this 

 gigantic fowl is less disposed to mount the trees 

 and roost on the branches than most others of 

 the genus ; and this strange attitude may be the 

 ordinary mode of taking rest. The crow of the 

 cock, instead of being a clear ringing tone, heart- 

 ily delivered as if in defiance of every rival, like 

 the blast of the knight's clarion on the listed 

 field, is short, hoarse, and monotonous, more 

 like a croak than a crow." 



We agree with the author just quoted, that 

 the stock represented by the figure of the prize 

 Malay cock on the opposite page, shows the 

 greatest purity, and indicates the least departure 

 from the original. The breed in its pure state 

 is generally not handsome, either in form or 

 plumage, and its flesh is coarse and wanting in 

 flavor. 



The usual height of the Malay cock is from 

 26 to 28 inches, and it weighs about ten pounds. 



