The Sonnerat Jungle Fowls. 
49 7 
partridge colour. The eyes of both birds are pearl or greenish-white ; and it is somewhat remark- 
able that cock-fighters in India always place most reliance on birds with eyes of this colour ; the 
more so as Layard says the cock of Gallus Stanleyii has tremendously sharp spurs, and in the 
frequent fights which occur seldom fails to thrash the domestic bird. He also states that the hen 
lays from six to twelve eggs, which are of a cream colour, mottled with reddish-brown specks ; and 
that the young when hatched resemble young chickens of the Domestic Fowl. 
SONNERAT’S JUNGLE FOWL, Gallus Sonneratii of naturalists, is a very peculiar and 
Fig. 99 . — Gallus Sonneratii. 
apparently distinct variety. It is confined to the more southerly parts of India, among which, 
however, it is very common, and is that known as the “Jungle Cock” by Indian sportsmen 
Colonel Sykes says that it is very abundant in the woods of the western Ghauts, and that it 
should be subdivided into two strongly-marked varieties ; one of which, however, appears to be 
the Gallus Stanleyii , the cock having a great deal of red in the plumage, which the true Sonnerat 
has not. 
This breed in general contour muen more resembles the Domestic Fowl than either of the 
preceding, as will be seen from the illustration ; it is also larger, stronger, and more powerful. It, 
however, differs in the hen being destitute of either comb or wattles, while the comb of the cock 
has only very fine serrations on the edge ; and still more in the peculiar character of the cock’s 
hackles, the shafts of which expand at the tips into a flat and horny plate, which gleams in the sun. 
These plates are generally of a golden orange-colour, but occasionally appear banded with various 
colours. The plumed portion of the hackle is dark greyish, the shafts being deep gold, which 
expand at the tips into the plates just described ; and not unfrequently the hackles will show two 
