598 Catalogue of Birds. [Nov. 



Colonel Sykes has met, by the square red spots on the black patches on the side 

 of the neck. Sexes alike. Frequents gardens and stable -yards. Length, in- 

 clusive of tail, 11.8 inches : tail 5.5 inches. 

 144. Columba (Enas, Linn. Stock Pigeon. Parwa of the Mahrattas. 



The most common bird in the Dukhun, congregating in flocks of scores, and a 

 constant inhabitant of every old dilapidated building. Colonel Sykes saw the 

 same species on board ship on the voyage to England, brought from China. 

 Irides, orange. Sexes alike. Length, inclusive of tail, 14.3 inches : tail 4.3 

 inches. 



The Dukhun bird differs from the European species in the bill being black instead 

 of pale red, in the utter want of white or black in the quills, the want of white 

 in the tail-feathers, and in the legs being brown instead of black. As these 

 differences are permanent, they might justify a specific name being applied to the 

 Dukhun Pigeon. 



Fam. Phasianidce, Vigors. — Genus Meleagris, Linn. Turkey. 



145. Meleagris Gallopavo, Linn. 



The Turkey is met with only in the domestic state : it is reared in great numbers 

 by the Portuguese. 



Genus Pavo, Auct. 



146. Pavo cristatus, Linn. Pea-foiol. Mohr of the Mahrattas. 



The wild Pea-fowl is abundant in the dense woods of the Ghauts : it is readily do- 

 mesticated, and many Hindoo temples in the Dukhun have considerable flocks 

 of them. On a comparison with the bird as domesticated inEurope, the latter is 

 found, both male and female, to be absolutely identical with the wild bird of 

 India. Irides, intense red brown. 



Genus Gallus, Briss. 



147. Gallus giganteus, Temm., Gall, Ind. 633. 



Known by the name of the Kulm Cock by Europeans in India. Met with only as 

 a domestic bird ; and Colonel Sykes has reason to believe that it is not a native 

 of India, but has been ; introduced by the Mussulmans from Sumatra or Java. 

 The iris of the real game bird should be whitish, or straw-yellow. Colonel 

 Sykes landed two cocks and a hen in England in June, 1831 : they bore the win- 

 ter well. The hen laid freely, and has reared two broods of chickens. The cock 

 has not the shrill clear pipe of the domestic bird, and his scale of notes appears 

 more limited. A cock in the possession of Colonel Sykes stood 26 inches high 

 to the crown of the head, but they attain a greater height. Length from the 

 tip of the bill to the insertion of the tail 23 inches. Hen, one third smaller than 

 the male. Shaw very justly describes the habit of the cock, of resting, when 

 tired, on the first joint of the leg. 



148. Gallus Sonneratii, Temm. Gall. Ind. 659. Jungle Cock. Rahn Komrah of the. 



Mahrattas. 

 Very abundant in the woods of the western Ghauts, where there are either two 

 species or two very strongly marked varieties. In the valleys at 2000 feet above 

 the sea, SonneraVs species is found, slender, standing high on the legs, and 

 with the yellow cartilaginous spots on the feathers even in the female. In the 

 belts of wood on the sides of the mountains, at 4000 feet above the sea, there is 

 a short-legged variety ; the male has a great deal of red in his plumage, which 

 SonneraVs has not ; the female is of a reddish brown colour, and is without car- 

 tilaginous spots at all : in fact, the female of this variety is the Gall. Stanleyii 

 of Mr. Gray's ' Illustrations.' Eggs exactly like those of the domestic fowl in 

 form and colour, but less in size. The wild hen would appear to sit on a much 

 smaller number of eggs than the domestic, as Colonel Sykes shot a hen upon her 

 nest in which were only three eggs, and the process of incubation had evidently 

 commenced some days. In the craw and stomach of many birds nothing what- 

 ever was found, excepting the seeds of a stone-like hardness called Job's tears 

 (Coix barbata.J Irides, brownish deep orange. The crow or call of this species 

 is like that of the Bantam Cock. 



149. Gallus domesticus, Ray. Phasianus Gallus cristatus, Linn. 



The domestic fowl is so abundant in the Dukhun, that in parts of the country not 

 much frequented by Europeans, Colonel Sykes has bought from eight to twelve 

 full-grown fowls for two shillings. Many of the hens, particularly of the villages 

 in the Ghauts, are not to be distinguished from the wild bird ; excepting only 

 in the want of the cartilaginous spot on the wing-coverts. 



150. Gallus Morio, Temm., Gall. Ind. 6(50. Briss., Orn. 1. 174. 



This supposed species very frequently occurs accidentally in the Dukhun. Although 

 unsightly, the black fowl is very sweet eating. 



151. Gallus crispus, Temm., Gall. Ind. 661. Briss. Om. 1. 173. pi. 17. 

 Occurs accidentally like the last variety. 



