THE POULTRY BOOK. 
239 
been erroneously regarded as descended from, or identical with, the supposed wild 
Gallus giganteuSj of whose existence there is no evidence whatever. Many of the 
Indian breeds are of what may be termed the Malayan type, and characterized by 
great height, long snaky necks with short haclde feathers, scanty tail coverts, close 
firm plumage, and stout elongated shanks. Some years since, a breed of this 
kind was exhibited at our poultry shows under the title of Rangoon fowls, and in 
the Illiistratecl London Netvs of April, 1865, there was figured a group of Indian 
fowls, with the name of Begum Pilly Gaguzes. For the liberty of reproducing 
this engraving we are indebted to the courtesy of the proprietors of that journal. 
The birds it pourtrays are good examples of the Malayan type, but are neither so 
close feathered, so tall, or so weighty as the best examples of Malays exhibited at 
our ordinary shows ; the height of the cock was stated to be two feet six inches, 
and the weight of young birds when seven or eight months old, was given as eight 
pounds each. In the account of these birds that accompanied the engraving, it 
was stated that they were introduced for the purpose of crossing with Dorkings, 
and thus improving our common breeds, but for this purpose a good Brahma or 
short-legged Cochin would be far superior. The engraving, however, is of much 
interest as illustrating a type of fowl common over a large portion of the south of 
Asia. 
