RED JUNGLEFOWL 177 
ments are any guide in the case, the specimen is certainly only of normal dimensions, 
the wing being 7°5 inches. On the other hand, I am unaware that this species is 
variable in plumage, and can find no mention of its being liable to melanism” 
(Clarke, ‘‘ Ibis,” 1900, p. 360). 
JAVA 
My own researches in this island have led me to the certain belief that the Red 
Junglefowl is a recent introduction, an intruder into the territory of the true Javan 
bird (Gallus vartus). 
Many more instances might be adduced of quite clear proof of the running wild 
of domestic fowls, and while I shall allude to this in another connection, I mention 
it here only to emphasize the importance of trying to limit the range of this bird 
to the natural, normal boundaries. I admit Sumatra as a valid locality, because of 
the corresponding distribution of several species of pheasants, such as the Malayan 
crestless fireback (4comus erythrophthalmus) and the Malayan argus pheasant 
(drgusianus argus). 
I have mentioned the fact that the Junglefowl occurs in the Sundarbans, which 
is the name in use for the extreme delta region of the Hoogly and other rivers 
which are derived from the Ganges. Concerning these birds Mr. Rainey writes: 
“T may add that the Junglefowls in the Sundarbans appear to be descended 
immediately from domestic fowls, which used to be let out there in considerable 
numbers by superstitious wood-cutters to propitiate the sylvan deities—a practice 
still prevailing to some extent—and I have shot these birds there in different stages 
of transition. This is interesting, as we evidently thus find the domestic fowl 
reverting to its pristine condition, for the Red Junglefowl is undoubtedly the origin 
of our tame varieties of fowl. I had a couple of chicks produced from eggs of wild 
birds set under the domestic fowl, and they remained contentedly in the poultry- 
yard, and freely bred—they were both hens—with the tame fowl. The progeny were 
in appearance midway between their parents, and exactly similar to some I had shot 
in the Sundarbans. About that time the cyclone of 1867 swept over the place I 
was residing at, and of course put a premature end to the varied denizens of the 
poultry-yard, hybrids included. I soon afterwards left my abode in the wilds of the 
Sundarbans, and have had no opportunity since of continuing the experiment.” 
There seems little doubt that all the birds of this isolated, unique region are actually 
domestic birds run wild, so that even on the mainland, adjoining the natural haunts 
of the birds, we may have, as in this case, a zone stocked by man, where the birds 
have become almost indistinguishable from the feral individuals elsewhere. 
GENERAL ACCOUNT 
Of all the pheasants, indeed of all the birds in the world, the Red Junglefowl 
stands first in importance to mankind on the earth. From this species, and this 
alone, all the forms of domestic fowls have taken their origin, and hence from the 
point of view of economic utility this bird assumes a position of great interest. 
With this point of view in our general account of the species we are not directly 
VOL. II AA 
