Chap. VIII.] THE CEYLOX JUNGLE FOWL. 259 



V. GrALLiN^E. The Ceylon Jungle-fowl. — The jungle- 

 fowl of Ceylon 1 is shown by the peculiarity of its 

 plumage to be not only distinct from the Indian species, 

 but peculiar to the island. It has never yet bred or 

 survived long in captivity, and no living specimens 

 have been successfully transmitted to Europe. It 

 abounds in all parts of the island, but chiefly in the 

 lower ranges of mountains ; and one of the vivid 

 memorials which are associated with our journeys 

 through the hills, is its clear cry, which sounds like 

 a person calling " George Joyce ," 2 and rises at early 

 morning amidst mist and dew, giving life to the 

 scenery, that has scarcely yet been touched by the 

 sun-light. 



The female of this handsome bird was figured many 

 years ago by Dr. Gkay in his illustrations of " In- 

 dian Zoology" under the name of 0. Stanleyi. The 

 cock bird subsequently received from Lesson, the 

 name by which the species is now known: but its 

 habitat was not discovered, until a specimen having 

 been forwarded from Ceylon to Calcutta, Dr. Blyth 

 recognised it as the long-sought-for male of Dr. Gray's 

 specimen. 



Another of the Gallinse of Ceylon, remarkable for the 

 delicate pencillings of its plumage, as well as for the 

 peculiarity of the double spur, from which it has ac- 

 quired its trivial name, is the Galloperdix bicalcaratus, 

 of which a figure is given from a drawing by Mr. 

 Gould. 



1 G-allus Lafayetti, Lesson. jungle fowl differs from that of 



2 I apprehend that in the parti- the Dekkan, where / am told that 

 cular of the peculiar cry the Ceylon it crows like a bantam cock. 



s 2 ' 



