The Sonnerat Jungle Fowls. 



491 



partridge colour. The eyes of both birds are pearl or greenish-white ; and it is somewhat remark- 

 able that cock-fightcrs in India always place most reliance on birds with eyes of this colour ; the 

 more so as Layard says the cock of Gallus Stanhyii has tremendously sharp spurs, and in the 

 frequent fights which occur seldoni fails to thrash the domestic bird. He also states that the hen 

 lays from six to twelve eggs, which are of a cream colour, mottled with reddish-brown specks ; and 

 that the young when hatched resemble young chickens of the Domestic Fowl. 



SONNERAT'S JUNGLE FOWL, Gallus Sonneratii of naturalists, is a very peculiar and 



I'ig- 99- — Gallus So.NNEKAii 



apparently distinct variety. It is confined to the more southerly parts of India, among which, 

 however, it is very common, and is that known as the "Jungle Cock" by Indian sportsmen. 

 Colonel Sykes says that it is very abundant in the woods of the western Ghauts, and that it 

 should be subdivided into two strongly-marked varieties ; one of which, however, appears to be 

 the Gallus Stanlcyii, the cock having a great deal of red in the plumage, which the true Sonnerat 

 has not. 



This breed in general contour much more resembles the Domestic Fowl than either of the 

 preceding, as will be seen from the illustration ; it is also larger, stronger, and more powerful. It, 

 however, differs in the hen being destitute of either comb or wattles, while the comb of the cock 

 has only very fine serrations on the edge ; and still more in the peculiar character of the cock's 

 hackles, the shafts of which expand at the tips into a flat and horny plate, which gleams in the sun. 

 These plates are generally of a golden orange-colour, but occasionally appear banded with various 

 colours. The plumed portion of the hackle is dark greyish, the shafts being deep gold, which 

 expand at the tips into the plates just described ; and not unfrequently the hackles will show two 



