BANKIVA COCK. 



199 



black. {Female grey-brown and yellowish, with the comb 



and wattles smaller than in the male.) 

 Gallus Bankiva. Temm, Gall. Ind. 654. 

 Coq et Poule Bankiva. Temm. Pig. et Gall. 8. 87. 



Temminck considers this species to be the 

 origin of our domestic poultry; but I cannot 

 assent to his arguments, as they do not appear to 

 be sufficient to warrant his assertion, and it is much 

 better (in all cases where proofs cannot be ob- 

 tained) to consider differing individuals as distinct 

 species, than run the hazard of connecting what 

 nature has not joined together : however, this is 

 thus described by that celebrated ornithologist* 

 " In form and colour it greatly resembles that race 

 of poultry called Bantams and Turkish Cocks ; the 

 only character that separates it from these is, that 

 it carries its tail somewhat horizontal and arched, 

 whereas in those it is considerably elevated, and 

 forms two vertical planes : the feathers which 

 adorn the neck are long, with their webs disunited, 

 .and towards their tips somewhat extended and 

 rounded: the head, the neck, and the whole of 

 the elongated feathers of the back, which reach to 

 the rump, are of a bright orange, or fiery colour : 

 the top of the back, the lesser and middle wing- 

 coverts, are of a beautiful purple-chesnut ; the 

 greater coverts are black, with green reflections : 

 the quills and secondary feathers are of a rusty red 

 on their outer edges, and black on their inner: 

 the breast, the belly, the thighs, the abdomen, and 

 the tail are black, with green-gold reflections : 



