THE POULTRY BOOK. 
257 
•and the Bantam, the Game cock and the Silk fowl, had but one origin, seems 
at first sight incredible ; but the existence, in other species of animals, of varieties 
as diverse as these is universally acknowledged. The gulf between the European 
and the Negro, or that separating the Turk from the Tasmanian, is as great as 
ihat between any two varieties of fowls. The toy terrier and the gigantic St. Ber- 
nard are as diverse as any two gallinacean varieties. 
Such being the conclusions arrived at by the most eminent authorities on 
natural history, it is desirable that we should possess a detailed description of 
the form, plumage, and habits of the wild original of our domestic breeds. For 
this ]ourpose we take the liberty of quoting, with some slight additions from 
Jerdon and other authorities, the following most interesting account of the Jungle 
fowl, from the pen of a well-known Indian ornithologist, who has published the 
results of his observations in The Field under the signature of Ornithognomon. 
The genus Gallus includes several distinct species ; the Gcdlus fernigmeus, 
also called the Gallus Banldva, of Continental India ; the Gallus Sonneratii, of 
Southern India only; and Gallus fur catus, of Java; the Gallus Stanleyi, of Ceylon, 
which resembles the Gallus ferrugineus, but is red beneath ; and several other 
doubtful species, as the Gallus ^neus, supposed to be a hybrid between the 
Gallus furcatus and Gallus ferrugineus ; and a species has been lately described 
from Batavia under the name of Gallus Temminckii. 
The common Jungle fowl of India is the Gallus ferrugineus of Gmelin, the 
Gallus Bankiva of Temminck, the “Bunmoorgh,” or ‘^Junglee Moorgh,” of 
the Hindostanies, ^‘Bunkookra” (Bengali), “ Geragogor ” (Gonds), ‘‘Natsoopia” 
(Botan), Paroktshee (Lepchas of Dorjelling), Beer seem” (Koles), Tauquet ” 
(Burmese), ‘^Ayamootan” (Malay), ‘‘Brooga” (Sumatra), “Bengkicoo,” or 
Bengkeeko ” (Javanese). 
The cock measures, from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail, about 26 
inches ; 2 feet 3 inches across the stretched wings ; the length of the closed wing 
is from 8 to 9 inches ; the tail measures 15 inches ; the leg or tibia is 4 inches long; 
the tarsus or shank, 3 inches ; the middle toe. If inches ; the spur, 1 to If inches ; 
and the weight of the bird is about 2f pounds. 
The hen is only 1 foot 5 inches long, the length of the tail 7 inches, and the 
wings spread 2 feet. 
These dimensions, which are taken from average-sized specimens, show how 
domestication and feeding have increased the size of our common breeds, some of 
Avhich almost rival the turkey in size. 
The following are the points indicating the pure wild breed : — 
The form is bulky, broad across the back and shoulders, the bird standing high 
and very erect, with protruding breast and a nearly horizontal tail, the tips of 
the centre feathers of which barely clear the ground. The plumage is thick, and 
the feathers of the neck and upper tail-coverts are linear, pointed, and drooping. 
Head and face bare, with a small circular patch of feathers over the ear-hole. 
The comb is high and serrated, rising from nostrils and overhanging the occiput. 
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