1902.] F. Finu — Abrupt Variation m Indian Birds. 85 



^' Galhis pseudhermaphrodittis, Nobis, N.S. ? A very singular 



bird, which, if I was not positively assured, was a male in normal 

 plumage, I should have suspected to be either an individual of mingled 

 sex, or possibly an aged male ; for that it is not a female in partially 

 masculine attire is evident from the size of its comb and wattles, and 

 especially of its spurs. Size of an English game cock, or larger than 

 the male G. Bankivus, having much stouter legs, the spurs of which 

 are 1| inches long ; comb and wattles as in the G. Bankivus, but the 

 former more entire towards the front (possibly a mere individual diver- 

 sity) : the tail is that of a cock bird of this genus, but scarcely more 

 developed than in the Eiiplocomi (as Eu. alhocristatus) ; in other 

 respects the plumage is altogether that of an ordinary brown hen, 

 having a redder cast than in the female G. Bankivus, especially on the 

 w ings ; tail coloured as in an ordinary male. Lengtli about 2 feet, of 

 which the middle tail feathers occupy 10 inches, wing from bend 

 9 inches, and tarse behind, to back toe, 2| inches. I am informed that 

 this species is never clad in the usual bright plumage of other male 

 birds of its genus." 



The specimen now only shows one long central tail-feather or 

 '* sickle," the other having apparently been broken, since there is a 

 large broken feather on the opposite side of the tail. From the look of 

 the comb and the coarse legs with abnormally enlarged anterior scales, 

 there can be little doubt that the bird was really a domestic one ; and 

 if its peculiarities were as a matter of fact racial, it would seem that 

 there hns existed in the east, a breed of which the cocks bore more or 

 less feminine plumage, comparable to the " Henny " game still existing 

 in England ; whicli, however, are altogether hen-feathered. 



I have never seen any hen-feathered cocks among the very variable 

 domestic poultry which occupy the coops in the Calcutta Bazaar; and 

 I should like here to draw attention to the fact that the operation of 

 caponizing, so frequently performed in India, results in more finely- 

 developed male plumage in the cockerels operated on, although their 

 combs and wattles do not develop fully, but remain like those of hens. 



