1902.] F. Finn — General Notes on Variation in Birds. 171 



"gipsy- faced." The whole skin, as is well-known, is dark in the Silky 

 breed, as is also in this case the periosteum of the bones. This breed 

 has white plumage, but usually dark-faced fowls are dark-feathered 

 also. I have never seen a dark- faced each iu India except, of course, a 

 " Silky." 



The comb in mongrel fowls is usually single ; but rose-combs often 

 occur, and pea-combs less commonly. The single comb is always larger 

 than in the Jungle-fowl, and higher and more arched iu outline in the 

 cocks. The wattles are also larger, and are developed in the hens, 

 which is not usually the case in the wild bird. Small crests and a muff 

 of feathers on the throat occur in mongrel fowls of both sexes, but not 

 together as a rule. Tame hens are also often spurred, which is rarely 

 the case in the Jungle-fowl, though Blyth obtained such a specimen. 

 The legs and feet are always larger and coarser in tame fowls than in 

 wild, and the tail is carried more erect. 



The wattles may be occasionally aborted, and a median dewlap 

 take their place. This tends to be the case in the Indian Aseel or fight- 

 ing-cock ; and in two fighting-cocks of a larger breed, from Saigon, I saw 

 at Mr. Rutledge's establishment some time back, not only were the 

 wattles absent and replaced by a dewlap, but there were no earlobes 

 either. Their combs were small and non-serrated, and as the neck and 

 head were all bare and red, the general appearance strikingly recalled 

 that of a Condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus). 



The Peacock {Pavo cristatus) varies at times in its wild state in 

 India. Mr. Hume {Game-hirds and Wild-fowl of hidia, Vol. I., p. 89) 

 records, on Sanderson's authority, two hens of a dirty yellow. Mr. 

 W. Rutledge once received a cock of the colour of a new copper coin, 

 as ho described it. 



Most tame Peafowl conform to the ordinary Avild type. 



White specimens are not rare, with fleshy-white bills and feet. 

 Pied specimens are also not uncommon ; the colouration, though not quite 

 regular, and unlike a natural marking, follows certain rules, the neck, pri- 

 mary quills and belly being white, and the rest of the plumage coloured. 



Most important of all is the Japan or Black-winged form (Paw 

 nigripennis of Sclater) in which the male has all the wing, except tlie 

 primaries, black, glossed at the edges with blue and green ; the primaries 

 are chestnut with clouding of black along the shaft and edge. The thighs 

 are also black in this form, and the train more glossed with copper than 

 in the type. The hen in this variety is white with the upper surface 

 grizzled with black, and longitudinal central black splashes on the rump- 

 feathers ; the tail is black, and the primaries chestnut as in the male. 



The feet are fleshy- white iu both sexes. 



