GAME BIRDS OF INDIA AND ASIA, 23 



does not flap his wings before uttering it. Birds 

 I have seen in confinement had a peculiar alarm- 

 note when approached, sounding like " koorchy- 

 koorchy,'" quite different from the cackle of the 

 common fowl. 



The breeding-season of this bird varies, being 

 usually from March to July, but on the western 

 side of the Neilgherries it is from October to De- 

 cember. The eggs number from seven to thirteen, 

 and are buff-coloured and laid as usual on the 

 ground with sometimes a few dry leaves below. 



On account of its beautiful and distinct appear- 

 ance, the sport it affords — for it is a wary bird — and 

 the value of its feathers, this would be a good 

 species to acclimatise outside India wherever there 

 is a warm dry climate. Thus it would be excel- 

 lently suited for turning out at the Cape, or in 

 Australia or California ; such extension of the 

 habitat of a desirable bird where it does not inter- 

 fere with another equally desirable, being in my 

 opinion really justifiable acclimatisation. 



The Green Jungle-Fowl. 



Gallus varius, Brit. Mus. Cat., Birds, Vol, XXII, 

 P- 352- 



This beautiful bird is mostly black, with an orange patch on 

 the wing, and a ruff of round-tipped bronze-green feathers in- 

 stead of the usual neck hackle. He has no ear-lobe or wattles, 

 but an expansible dewlap rather like a turkey's, and his comb 

 is not notched. It and the dewlap are most exquisitely col- 

 oured with puce and pale blue, with a yellow patch on the throat ; 

 and the face is flesh-colour, often flushing to scarlet. The hen 

 has no comb or wattles, and is barred with black and brown, 

 the black being much more in evidence than in the hens of other 

 jungle-fowL This species is found in the Malayan Islands from 

 Java to Flores ; the crow of the cock is a shrill shriek in three 

 syllables, very like the cry of the gold pheasant in tone. 



