84 F. Finn — Abrupt Variation in Indian Birds. [No. 1, 



condifcions; and one now, although crippled to a great extent in one 

 wing, is master of most if not all the normally coloured Ruffs again 

 placed with him in another aviary. Yet a Reeve, which was at first 

 his sole companion of the species, seems to have deserted him for a 

 normally coloured bird. 



The only-slightly-mottled specimen alluded to above also, though 

 undersized and slightly lame, often attacked and beat a larger, though 

 younger, normally-coloured male confined with it, which was sound. 



In conclusion, it seems to me, that whether the unusual number 

 of this variety which have appeared of late is due to an abnormal 

 westerly migration or not, it seems to be a well-marked and definable 

 form, liable to recur again and again, and very probably hereditary ; 

 thus it would be likely to increase, unless checked by natural or sexual 

 selection. 



The Ruff could probably afford to run a greater risk than most 

 birds, as it is evidently a vigorous species, more hardy of constitution, 

 courageous, and indiscriminate in its diet than most Limicolse ; this is 

 shown by its readiness to eat vegetable as well as animal food, its habit 

 of constantly fighting, in which both sexes indulge as well in winter as 

 in summer, and its power of recovering from injuries and enduring 

 so unnatural a climate as that of Bengal. 



As it is desirable to distinguish a well-marked and recurrent aberra- 

 tion like this by a subspecific name, 1 venture to suggest that it be 

 known as PavonceUa pugnax leucoprora* 



II. Note on the Gallus pseudhermaphroditus OP Blyth. 



With the attention that is now being paid to the variation of 

 animals under domestication, it may not be mal d propos to recall to the 

 memory of naturalists the curious variety of the fowl described many 

 years ago, though doubtfully, by Blyth, under the name of Gallus 

 pseudhermaphroditus. The specimen is alluded to in his catalogue of 

 the birds in the collection of the Asiatic Society under No. 1463 as 

 " P. Singular individual (?) variety, from Mergui, described as G. pseud- 

 hermaphroditus, J.A.S.X, 925. Rev. J. Barbe (1841)." 



The specimen still exists, and, unlike too many of Blyth's birds, 

 has suffered little deterioration, and hence I have thought it advisable 

 to give a figure of it here (Plate II), as I have never seen or heard of a 

 similar variation myself. I also reproduce below the original description 

 from page 925 of the tenth volume of Our Society's Journal, since this is 

 not very readily accessible now-a-days : — 



* Diagnosis — Exemplis hibernis P. pugnacis similis, sed capite et nucha aut 

 omnino albis ant albo variegatis distinguenda. 



