Origin of Domestic Poultry. 
409 
We have repeatedly noticed in certain strains of British (iame Fowls —both the old-fashioned stamp 
and the modern bird— that the cocks, prior to the actual moulting season, moult out the long, flowing 
feathers of neck and saddle, developing a short, close-fitting hackle, similar to the hen's hackle of the variety, 
this being replaced later by the flowing hackle feathers appertaining to the sex of the bird, this same 
characteristic being found in Gal/us Bankiva. That, in all probability, some strains of Game Fowls are 
descended from Gallus Bankiva seems feasible enough, as the latter breeds freely with the Domestic Fowl 
of India, the hybrids being fertile with either parent, and also intei-se. This latter is a strong proof of " unity 
of species." The fact that it is not the whole of the Game tribe that develop the peculiar hackle feathers in 
the cocks prior to moulting proper, points to the conclusion (in conjunction with other variations) that all are 
not descended from one common ancestor, and that the yellow-fleshed varieties of the Game tribe are most 
likely descendants of Galliis Bankiva, while the white-fleshed varieties are probably descended from some 
species now extinct, this in itself being the actual progenitor of Galliis Bankiva. 
The division in the habitat of the wild varieties is very pronounced, those of the white-fleshed being 
found towards the west, while the yellow-fleshed are confined to the south and east. The Rhodian Fowls, 
and those of Media, Chalcis, and Persia, were noted for the whiteness and delicacy of their flesh, while we 
note that, almost without exception, the Asiatic varieties are yellow-fleshed. 
As before remarked, the GalUis Bankiva, in different parts of India, varies considerably in colour, 
ranging from a close resemblance to the Black-Breasted Red Game to quite a yellowish-brown ; the colour of 
the legs also varies from an olive-green to a brilliant yellow. These differences in a wild breed, in addition 
to their non-uniformity of size, at once divides this breed into two or more families, thus clearly accounting 
for the marked difference in their descendants, and at the same time explaining the variations in colour and 
characteristic traits of the race of Poultry which resembles them most closely in shape and colour ; and the 
latter, if not carefully mated each successive generation to keep up to the standard of colour laid down, will 
revert in a generation or two to a bird almost identical with Galliis Bankiva. 
Gallus Stanlevii. — This wild breed, or sub-variety of Galliis Bankiva, is indigenous to Ceylon, Java, 
and the woods of the Western Ghauts, India, and differs chiefly in the cock being a yellowish-red in breast, 
yellowish-orange neck hackle, and bluish-purple saddle hackle, the latter feathers being broad and rounded 
at the extremities. The comb and wattles are red, the comb being tinged with yellow in the centre. The 
hen of this variety is of a Partridge colour, and her cumb is very small. In both sexes the eyes are 
pearl in colour. The cock of this variety breeds with the Domestic hen, but there is some doubt as 
to the fertility of the hybrids, and the pure stock has never been known to breed in confinement. In 
the wild state the hen lays from eight to twelve eggs at a batch, which are of a tinted colour, mottled 
with specks of a darker shade. The chickens, when hatched, are almost identical with the chickens of 
the Domestic Fowl. This breed is practically identical with Gallus Bankiva, though the crow of the cock 
is somewhat difl"erent. 
Gallus Soneratii, or Sonerat's Jungle Fowl, is quite distinct from either Gallus Bankiva or Gallus 
Stanlevii, and is confined to the more southern portions of India— Hyderabad, Mysore, and Madras — and is 
often shot for sport, being locally known as Jungle Fowl. This breed closely resembles the common 
barn-door type of Domestic Poultry, being almost identical in shape and general characteristics, with the 
exception of the comb of the cock, which is very slightly serrated, and the hen being destitute of either 
comb or wattles. The plumage of the cock is quite distinct from either Gallus Bankiva, Gallus Stanleyii, 
or the Domestic bird, the neck hackles being a dark greyish colour, the shafts being golden, the latter 
expanding at the tips into a flat, horny scale, which glistens in the sun. These scales or plates are mostly 
of a bright orange colour, but at times are barred with various hues. In some specimens the scales or 
plates on the hackle feathers are in duplicate, one above the other, on the same shaft. The breast and back 
feathers are generally a combination of grey and bluish-dun, though at times some yellow is present in the 
neck and saddle hackles. The tail is a brilliant greenish-black, and the legs and beak yellow. The hen of 
this variety is a brownish-drab on back, wings, and tail ; the throat almost pure white, gradually merging 
