THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 23 



very strongly marked varieties. In the valleys, at 

 2,000 feet above the sea, Sonnerat's species is found 

 slender, standing high on the legs, and with the yellow 

 cartilaginous spots on the feathers even in the female. 

 Jn the belts of wood on the sides of the mountains, at 

 4,000 feet above the sea, there is a short-legged variety. 

 The male has a great deal of red in his plumage, which 

 Sonnerat's has not ; the female is of a reddish-brown 

 color, and is without cartilaginous spots at all." 



Sonnerat's jungle fowl, the jungle cock of the 

 British, is noted for its prowess and resolution, inso- 

 much that it is anxiously sought after by the cock 

 fighters in Hindoostan, who rely on it for victory when 

 pitted against larger game cocks. It does not appear, 

 however, that the Mussulman cock fighters breed this 

 bird in its purity ; they seek after the wild birds, 

 which soon become tame. 



In general habits and manners, the jungle fowl 

 resemble their domestic relatives ; the cock proudly 

 leads his train of females, and vigilantly watches over 

 their safety. "On being suddenly disturbed the troop 

 scatters in all directions, seeking safety under covert 

 of the dense brushwood. In spots where they are 

 numerous, the challenging of the cocks to each other 

 may be heard on every side around, and yet such is 

 their cunning, and keenness of sight, that the sports- 

 man, unless he is well acquainted with their habits, 

 is often disappointed in his attempts to get a fair shot. 



Sonnerat and many other naturalists have contended, 

 that, to this species alone are our breeds of domestic 

 fowls to be traced. Most probable, notwithstanding 

 the peculiarity of the plumage, and the circumstance 

 of the throat of the female being covered with feathers, 

 instead of being naked and wattled, it has intermingled 

 with other breeds, or contributed to improve them — 

 and among them may be enumerated the high-spirited 

 game fowls kept for fighting by the Mussulmans- of 

 India, and which have been long celebrated; but it 

 cannot bo admitted that Sonnerat's jungle fowl is the 



